Children should be seen and heard all the time

GEORGE NEWS - Parents should be more vigilant when taking their children into public places and should never leave their children unattended. This is the sad reality that recently became clear after a number of mothers contacted George Herald with similar experiences of what they perceive as attempted abduction.

This after last week's front page article, Girl (3) snatched in store, recounting an incident where a man allegedly attempted to abduct a three-year-old girl inside New Harvest retail store at the Eden Meander shopping centre on Sunday morning, 15 May.

In another recent incident a family gathered with friends at a restaurant on the old airport road near Great Brak River for a birthday celebration on 23 April.

According to a mother two of her children, a girl (12) and a boy (6), a female cousin (11) and another female friend (6) were playing in the kids' play area when a man who was leaving the premises approached the two older girls and allegedly tried to lure them into his white bakkie.

"It was a birthday celebration, so there were quite a number of people. We were all sitting outside on the stoep while the kids were playing no further than 10m from us. The man, assumed to be in his 50s, came out of the restaurant and while he was walking to his bakkie, approached my daughter and her cousin.

"According to my daughter he told them to come and have a look at something in his bakkie. Luckily the girls are savvy and immediately ran to me to tell me what had just happened," she said.

When he saw the children running to tell their parents, the man allegedly hastily jumped into his bakkie and drove off saying that he had only been joking.

"It was a really scary situation and the kids were all in tears, but an eye-opener that something bad can happen in a second. George is not our old small little town anymore, so please be extra careful with your precious kids," warns the mother.

Another mother from George told George Herald her story that dates back to 2019 when she and her daughter, then 18 months old, were constantly approached and borderline harassed by a male in the security complex they were living in.

"He kept on bringing my daughter sweets and toys and offered to look after her if I ever needed him to. I obviously declined. It became way too close for comfort when I noticed him taking photos of my daughter, as well as other children in the area.

"One of the fathers in the complex, as well as myself, confronted him about it and he told me that he doesn't mean any harm, he just 'loves children' and 'likes to play with them'.

George Herald also received information about a recent incident on Victoria Bay beach, where a man of Middle Eastern descent was seen allegedly taking photos of children, mostly young girls, on the beach without their parents' consent.

A father of one of the children confronted him, after which the man was asked to leave the area.

By the time of going to print, exact details surrounding this incident could not be confirmed.

Responsibility with parents

Southern Cape police spokesperson Sgt Chris Spies said although the safety of children is a key priority for the police, and police stations and other departments regularly embark on awareness drives, a child's safety remains the responsibility of his or her parents.

Crimes committed against children should be reported to the nearest police station, by phoning Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or making use of the MySAPS app.

Safety hints

• Children must know their full names, age, contact details and address.

• They must know how to contact you, the police or another close relative in an emergency.

• They should always ask your permission before accepting gifts from strangers.

• In situations where strangers approach your child alone, children should run home or to the nearest public place or a friend's home if they are being followed or frightened.

• They must know that adults, especially strangers, rarely ask children for help in finding things or for directions.

• They must know that if they become separated from you in a store or shopping mall, they must go to a store employee or cashier for help immediately.

• Know where your children are at all times. Know their friends and be clear with them about the places and homes they may visit.

• Never leave children unattended.

• Listen to your children. Pay attention if they tell you they do not want to be with someone or go somewhere.

• Notice when anyone shows your child a great deal of attention or begins giving gifts. Ask your child about the person and find out why that person is behaving that way.

• Teach your children that they have the right to refuse any unwelcome, uncomfortable or confusing situation and they should get out of such situations as quickly as possible. If they cannot leave, they should be taught to kick, scream and resist by yelling loudly, "This person is not my mom or dad".

• Practise basic safety skills with your children. Make an outing to a mall or park an educational experience in which your children practise checking with you.

• Do not let your children wear clothing or carry items that bear their names in public. It makes it too easy for a stranger to approach them.

• Develop code words for anyone you trust to fetch your children and teach your children the words. Tell them not to go with anyone who does not know the code words.

Children should be taught not to accept sweets or gifts from strangers.
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