According to the police, the number of children who go missing at this time of the year is usually high. The 2022 Strategic Organised Crime Risk Assessment report by the South African Police Service (SAPS) notes that KZN, after Gauteng, has the second-highest number of kidnappings of adults and children in the country.

"We are making an appeal for parents to take parental responsibility for their children," says police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda. "They must never leave their children unattended. We are making this call because we have come to realise that there might be a syndicate out there that targets children."

'Parents must be aware of where their children are'

He adds, "In the past few years, children have been missing more during this time of the year. We are telling parents to be aware of where their children are at all times. If you are going to the shopping malls, make sure that you hold them by the hand. Keep them with you always."

Children’s rights organisation Operation Bobbi Bear says this time of the year it shelters a high number of children who are victims of abuse.

The child safety officer and trauma counsellor at the organisation, S’bongisile Ngcobo, says, "We deal with a lot of cases during the festive season. Children are being trafficked, they are being raped. During this time of year, some parents are usually having a good time and are less cautious. We always tell parents to ensure that they know where their children are and who they are playing with."

"We are facing a serious problem. We are going to have a lot of kids coming in at this time. We also go to police stations and do counselling, as there are a lot of kids that need help. The police sometimes bring the kids here, even social workers," she adds.

SABC News