South Africa: Avoiding crime part3 (Missing persons)

 

The first thing that I wish to make clear is that South Africa is not a safe country to visit. The crime statistic for the country shows this clearly. Official government statistics are for the most part also misleading and even manipulated to make things look better than it actually is. The fact that government and the police are actually fiddling the statistics is reported regularly in the news media as well.

Please visit my blog, where I report on crime happening in the country. Here you will get some specific on cases reported in the mainstream media.

Http://white-southafrican.blogspot.com

 

Missing Children / Persons

• Please report any missing person immediately. There is no waiting time before this can be done.
• Report a missing person at the nearest police station.  
• It is a good idea to always have recent photographs of all persons in your traveling party available. If you are on your own, ensure that your host has such a photo available. In the even of a missing person or you going missing, this photo, together with as much information as possible, should be given to the police.
• Always know the schedules and movements of loved ones and family members. This information is very useful to the police in the event of a missing person.
• If a missing person turns up on his own, report this to the police immediately. They will then stop investigations into the case.
• Crime stop number 08600 10111 may be used to report any information regarding missing persons in South Africa.

FOLLOW-UP actions

• Check out places that the missing person may have visited or frequents.
• Posters and flyers is always a good idea, as this informs the community of the situation.
• Check diaries; ask friends; acquaintances and hosts for possible information.
• The Bureau for Missing Persons should be asked by the police to publicize the case in the electronic and print media.

 

General information on missing persons

 

There are several reasons for people going missing in South Africa, but a few are as follows:

 

1.    People are killed during crime event and are reported missing

2.    People become victims of vehicle hijackings and go missing

3.    Children are abducted for use in child prostitution and pornographic purposes

4.    People get hurt or die during excursions in nature, especially in lonely dangerous areas.

 

It is highly advisable to always keep your children with you during any visit to South Africa. Children are extremely vulnerable and are targeted easily by criminals. Robbery is the motive in most cases, but there are a growing number of cases reported where children are abducted for use in child prostitution. If you get into contact with any child who offers you sex, please report this to the police immediately and if possible take the child with you. Care should however be taken, as these children are normally controlled by ruthless pimps who will use violence without thinking twice, to prevent this. Event a simple thing like taking a photo of any prostitute should be done with utmost care and avoided if possible.

 

Please be very careful and extremely vigilant not become part of the growing statistics of people reported missing in South Africa.

 

Web links on missing persons in South Africa

 

http://www.missingkids.co.za/

http://crimelert.co.za/missing-wanted/listcats-123.html

http://www.k-i-d-s.co.za/

http://www.missingchildren.org.za/MCSA/About_MCSA.html