Spur dispels groundless social media message
Spur dispels groundless online message on child abductions.
Gopolang Chawane
Following a recurring messages on social media last Friday about Spur being labelled as a potential hotspot for child abductions, the Spur team invited Rekord on a tour of its various Spur ranches in the east of Pretoria and Centurion to dispel any myths or “groundless online statements”.
Chief operating officer Mark Farrelly said these stories were untrue, groundless and mischievous.
“We have heard this rumour before. But just as it surfaced years ago without grounds, it still remained groundless,” Farrelly said.
He said this rumour or message somehow pops up every now and then for some unknown reason.
This persisting social message about children being abducted from Spur playing areas has the restaurant chain concerned about the doubt in their customer’s minds because Spur prides itself on their child play areas.
Divisional manager for Gauteng Spur branches, Amanda van Wyk, said although the social media message might be completely groundless, it always leaves a slight level of doubt in the mind of customers the next time parents take their children along to a Spur.
She said Spur had qualified first aid child minders who were tested and monitored to ensure the safety of every child.
Child minders are visible in every play area by their uniquely designed orange reflector jackets that make it easy for parents to identify them.
“Every child who enters the child play area, is latched with a tag around their wrist with the name of child and parents’ details,” said Van Wyk.
Another divisional operations manager, Anton Geldenhuys, said Spur also prides itself on its display monitors which allow parents to monitor the play area from any seated area on the premises.
“This allows parents, to enjoy their meal and monitor their children playing, supervised by the minders in the play areas,” said Geldenhuys.
Reports about several apparent abduction attempts in and around Pretoria the past few weeks appeared to have sparked a repeat of the rumour about the so-called Spur abductions.
Some users of social media have gone so far as suggesting that waiters at the Spur were actually paid to distract patrons while their children were abducted.
In the message, parents were warned never to leave their children unattended.
Farelly said Spur prided itself on being a thriving service provider with competent managers at all its branches.
“Play areas had been uniquely placed in spots where parent were able to keep an eye on their children,” said Farelly.
The existence of paedophiles was a fact, but Farrelly said they could be found anywhere. The association with Spur was unfortunate.
Farrelly said no child organisation had approached Spur, suggesting that it had been involved in any child kidnapping incident.
The Spur team and managers asked Rekord to mention that groundless social media sharing of groundless messages, not only hurts the brand, but builds unnecessary worry in customers’ heads.
“We hope everyone of our customers knows we pride ourselves with our service and will ensure that every customer enjoys a memorable experience at our ranches,” said Spur divisional managers.
The recent string of apparent abduction attempts involving children in Pretoria, have prompted Rekord and other community role players to establish a #KeepPTAKidssafe campaign.
In May 2014 Brooklyn Mall’s general manager labelled an alleged kidnapping of a child at the Phoenix Spur at the Brooklyn Mall as a complete hoax.
Brooklyn Mall’s Michelle Kriek told Rekord in May 2014 that Brooklyn Mall and Phoenix Spur investigated the matter and were confident the incident did not take place.
This statement followed after a Facebook post stated that a child was kidnapped and drugged at the Phoenix Spur. According to the post and the e-mail, the child was found injected and drugged under the table of a white couple.
The Facebook post also stated that a woman with red hair, aged about 60, was working with a man who drove a white Ford Ranger. It was alleged the couple was involved in a child syndicate operating in various areas.
“When groundless rumours are spread about such a serious issue, it is distressing. We are trying to find the source of the post. Meanwhile, we would appreciate it if you could inform the person who shared the post that the incident did not take place and was a hoax,” Kriel said.
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