KIDNAPPING SPIKE WARNING

A spike in missing children cases in the first week of the school holidays has prompted a strong safety warning from Cape child protection activist Veranique Benji Williams. 

The founder of Faith and Hope Missing Persons is urging parents and caregivers to be extra cautious and vigilant.

Benji said her organisation has already responded to at least nine cases involving missing minors under the age of 15 since schools closed - a sharp and immediate increase from usual numbers.

Two of the cases involved a six-year-old girl from the Marikana informal settlement in Philippi East and an eleven-year-old girl from Delft. Both children were found safe after going missing during the first week of the break.

Benji said her team treats every alert with urgency, particularly when it involves younger children.

“0–12 years old, you cannot hesitate, you have to go out immediately. That is a child,” she said. “In teenagers, we find there is a lot of runaways or [children who are] unhappy.”

She also stressed that parents must act without delay when a child disappears.

“Let me say this again: there is no waiting time to report your child missing. We rely on that first 24 hours — it is extremely crucial.”

Benji shared practical advice for parents and caregivers during the school break:

Stay alert in public spaces: “Always keep an eye on your kids. Even when you go shopping — which happens a lot — try and get someone to watch your children at home. Public places are where human traffickers are targeting people.”

Trust your instincts, not just ‘stranger danger’: “Be careful of who you trust around your kids. ‘Stranger danger’ is a thing of the past. Teach them that it’s okay to speak out, to ask questions, and learn to listen.”

Be emotionally present: “Sometimes our kids yearn for that attention. Sometimes they are quietly telling us things but we are not present — by listening. That is why we get a lot of runaway teenagers.”