A child goes missing every five hours in South Africa. To protect their children, Missing Children South Africa (MCSA) advises families to implement the following:
- Ensure children know their own names, as well as their guardians’ names and mobile number.
- Teach children the “buddy system”, which is to always have a friend with them – they should not go anywhere alone.
- Do not share weekend or holiday plans on social media.
- Create an exclusive family password and always be sure to pick children up at the pre-arranged time. If someone needs to be sent to meet them or pick them up, the person should know the password.
- If a child is suspected to be missing, report it to the nearest police station. There is no waiting period. Do not wait 24 hours.
- Do not treat public facilities as a “convenient babysitter”. Do not leave your children alone in play areas or public places.
MCSA is a non-profit organisation that helps in the event when a child (or adult) goes missing. It has a network of volunteers countrywide and an extensive social media support system.
Contact MCSA on the emergency number 072-647-7464 or visit missingchildren.org.za.
