Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za
2 August 2024 | 10:00 CAT
3 min read

Kidnapping and extortion are surging in the Eastern Cape, with people living with disabilities becoming the latest victims. Blind and deaf individuals are being forced to pay for protection against robberies. Business owners are also expressing concern over the alarming increase in crime.

Bianca van Aswegen from Missing Children SA highlighted troubling trends in an interview with Radio Islam.

“One trend we have noticed is that it’s not just high-profile cases with businessmen and wealthy families being kidnapped by these syndicates; it’s a very low-risk, high-reward type of crime, so as long as they gain something out of it, anyone is at risk, which is highly concerning,” she said.

She highlighted that statistics only provide a general indication of the problem, as many cases go unreported. Fear often prevents people from going to the police, and paying ransom demands to secure the release of family members also reduces the number of reported cases. This includes both low-profile and high-profile kidnappings, which are often sophisticated and can be jeopardised by media coverage, especially on social media.

“We have seen so many cases being hampered due to the spread of misinformation on social media. Unfortunately, we do see high-profile cases hit the media more, but we need to understand that this is a problem we face on a daily basis in South Africa with kidnappings that we need to do something about,” she said.

Van Aswegen stressed the complete misconception that there is a waiting period for reporting a child missing in South Africa.

“The first and most important thing is to report a missing person immediately to your nearest police station and then report it to Missing Children SA so action can be taken immediately. We live in a country where crime is all over the show,” she said.

The community serves as the eyes and ears on the ground, but there are ways to report information anonymously for those who fear coming forward.

If you know of any criminal activities or want to report a crime anonymously, you can contact Crime Stop – 08600 10111.

“We need to keep our community safe, and we need information from the public to be able to take action and to help. Safety measures need to be implemented in our communities and get these elements out where crime is so high,” she said.

According to van Aswegen, another unfortunate trend is that they often see cases that gain widespread media attention and prompt community involvement in searches, but then interest quickly fades. She noted that desensitisation is a significant issue, as people become numb to the frequent coverage of these cases, impacting their engagement and response. “But it is important to be vigilant and never give up on any of these because then crime wins,” she added.

Regarding preventative measures, van Aswegen mentioned that many families face situations where parents are not with their children after school or during the day. However, there are numerous options available, such as afterschool programs and school holiday programs, to help ensure children’s safety and supervision.

“Safety starts at home, but if you are not there to do so, make arrangements for someone to look after them. We cannot allow our children to be alone at home or on the streets; it is too dangerous, and it’s in those cases that we see the most children going missing,” she said.

She expressed that this is an extremely traumatic experience for both the victim and their families, often involving torture by kidnappers to meet ransom demands. There are organisations that provide free services for trauma victims, regardless of financial situation. “If you need help, contact Missing Children SA, and we will guide you through the available support: Visit www.missingchildren.org.za,” said van Aswegen.

What to do when a person goes missing:

1. Complete the SAPS 55(A) Form: Obtain and fill out the form at your nearest South African Police Station to get an official SAPS case number. Missing Children South Africa (MCSA) cannot process a request without this number.
2. Fill in the Online Form: Complete the ‘Report now’ form found on the Missing Children SA website and ensure all fields are accurately filled out.
3. Update MCSA: Keep Missing Children South Africa informed of any progress or developments.
4. Ongoing Communication: MCSA stays in contact with both the family and the police, providing updates and developments.

LISTEN to the full interview with Ml Junaid Kharsany and Bianca van Aswegen from Missing Children SA, here.