UPDATE: New Centurion helpline for kids in need coming soon
The helpline, aimed at helping children address issues such as bullying, drugs, domestic violence and abuse, will be launched in the next few weeks.
A helpline for vulnerable children in Centurion will be launched soon.
The helpline will help children and their parents get in contact with authorities swiftly, according to non-profit Toys for Africa founder Danie van Loggerenberg.
The number will be launched on 17 September only in the Centurion area for now.
It will be run by Van Loggerenberg and his organisation.
Van Loggerenberg said while the helpline would not prevent children being bullied or even kidnapped, it would give them a direct port of call when faced with such a situation.
“We recently visited a school where a child, who had an interdict against a parent, was being collected by that parent,” he said.
“We immediately put the child and school in contact with the police who advised the parent be allowed to take the child.”
“Under normal circumstances the child would have been taken and once that happens it can be difficult to sort out the situation.”
Van Loggerenberg referred to yesterday’s incident involving five-year-old Amy Lee de Jager who was reportedly snatched from her mother’s arms at her primary school in Vanderbijlpark.
“I cannot imagine what the mother must have been going through, but I know she must have wanted to let someone know about the situation immediately.”
“That is what the helpline offers parents and children – a direct line to the authorities in situations they can’t handle themselves.”
Other issues the helpline hoped to address included bullying, drugs, domestic violence and abuse.
Van Loggerenberg said children often couldn’t access emergency numbers, but were very familiar with WhatsApp.
“With our helpline the child will only have to send a message to the number stating their problem,” he said.
“An automated response will ask for more details, including the school’s name.”
Van Loggerenberg said in such instances the organisation can send the police to engage with the school.
ALSO READ: Centurion helpline for kids in need
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