Cape Town - The Hanover Park community has come out in full force to find 9-year-old Fagan Ruiters after he was abducted from school allegedly by his estranged stepfather.
Police spokesman FC van Wyk said police, neighbourhood watches and community policing forums were working together to find Fagan.
Houses have been searched in Hanover Park without any success.
“All possible leads are being investigated, but no progress has been made,” Van Wyk said.
In grade three, Fagan was taken from the Morgenson Primary School in Hanover Park shortly before 10am on Wednesday.
Police said the suspect identified as Jerome Geduld, 32, from Rocklands, Mitchells Plain, went to the school and informed the secretary that Fagan’s mother, Anastacia Ruiters, had passed away.
The school gave him an indemnity form which he completed with false information.
Geduld sent a message to her that he was going on holiday and had taken Fagan with him.
“Mr Geduld is not the biological father of the child and thus had no right to remove the child from the school,” Van Wyk said.
Guduld suffers from anxiety and depression and was said to be moving between Steenberg, Mitchells Plain, Parow, Bellville and Cape Town, Van Wyk said.
He confirmed Geduld was separated from the child’s mother.
Western Cape Education MEC Debbie Schafer’s spokesperson Jessica Shelver said they had not been informed of the abduction.
Shelver said Geduld was on the school’s list of people that were allowed to collect Fagan.
“The school was not informed the mother and stepfather had separated.
“A school will always have a list of people who are allowed to collect a child from school.
“If anyone other than that attempts to collect a child, they would have to acquire permission from the parents prior to collection.”
She said they would request an investigation.
“Our primary concern is for the safety of Fagan and his return to his mother’s care as soon as possible.
“We urge that anyone with information should contact the authorities immediately,” she added.
Fagan was last seen in his uniform maroon jersey, grey school pants and black shoes.
Police have appealed to the public to bring forward any information about the whereabouts of Geduld and Fagan.
Anyone with information can contact Colonel Desmond Laing at 082 469 3016 or investigating officer Constable Pearl Absolon of Nyanga police at 073 395 6956 or call Crime Stop anonymously on 08600 10111, or SMS Crimeline on 32211.
Cape Times