A parent’s worst nightmare: their child has been kidnapped and fallen victim to human trafficking, with their whereabouts and safety unknown. But is the threat of child trafficking prevalent in Newcastle? This question arises following a letter issued by a Newcastle-based school, Busy Bee Primary.
The letter, circulated on Tuesday, 7 May 2024, has gained widespread attention within the Newcastle community after going viral across social media—seeing numerous parents contacting Newcastillian News about the prevalence and threat of kidnapping in the area.
According to the letter, the school stated that it had been made aware of child trafficking in Madadeni and Osizweni. “We are shocked to hear that child trafficking is happening right here on our doorstep, and we are very concerned about the safety of our learners,” read the letter.
As per the school, it appears that primary school children, ranging from Grade R to Grade 7, are the main targets. The traffickers reportedly attempt to lure the children into a car/van before kidnapping them. In light of these revelations, the letter urged parents to exercise extreme vigilance regarding their children’s whereabouts and to educate them about the importance of avoiding strangers.
In order to provide the community with a deeper understanding, Newcastillian News further investigated the topic contacting various entities.
While the Deputy Principal for Busy Bee declined to comment, a school representative stated, “We can only say that we received information from community members and wanted to warn the parents of our school.”
Speaking with the Newcastle SAPS, Spokesperson Lizzy Arumugam acknowledged being aware of the letter issued by Busy Bee Primary but affirmed, “There have been no cases reported to the SAPS of children being kidnapped or trafficked in the Newcastle area.”
Similarly, Osizweni SAPS spokesperson, Captain Sipho Nkosi, corroborated Arumugam’s statement, emphasising the absence of reports concerning child trafficking brought to the SAPS’s attention.
While no official cases had been reported to the local SAPS, Captain Nkosi and Arumugam stressed the importance of community members reporting any knowledge of child trafficking to law enforcement.
“Once an official case has been reported to the police, we can start investigating the matter and allocate the necessary resources,” explained Captain Nkosi.
Moreover, Arumugam highlighted the paramount importance of child safety and urged community members to come forward with information, enabling law enforcement to take appropriate action in locating missing children and bringing perpetrators to justice.
Additionally, Newcastle Child Welfare’s Farieda Mia affirmed awareness of Busy Bee Primary’s letter but stated no knowledge of child trafficking within the local community. “There is a task team that deals with child trafficking, and if there were any cases, we would have been notified,” said Mia.
Although no reported cases of child trafficking exist in Newcastle, Newcastle Child Welfare supported the school’s initiative to raise awareness on the issue. “It is important for parents to remain vigilant with their children, as child trafficking is a crime that must be taken seriously.”
While Newcastillian News applauds the school’s goal of safeguarding children, in light of the absence of official cases, residents are encouraged to remain calm while prioritising vigilance concerning their children’s safety.
Community members are reminded to furnish law enforcement with any information regarding kidnapping and child trafficking, thereby enabling law enforcement to devise and implement the requisite plans to safeguard Newcastle’s children.
What are your thoughts on the above? Share your views in the comment section below.
Comments 1
There has been a drastic increase of scholars in school uniform being hit by vehicles lately