Cape Town - Child rights group Matla A Bana (a voice against child abuse) has expressed deep concern about children being abandoned or who have gone missing, and urged people to take responsibility for all children in their communities.
This is after an 8-year-old girl was found at a house in her neighbourhood on Wednesday, about 24 hours after she had gone missing on Tuesday while playing outside her home in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain.
Anesipho Mkhala has since been taken to hospital for a medical check-up
The incident happened after
a boy, aged about two, was found with his hands tied with elastic in a bush in Marcus Garvey informal settlement in Philippi on Sunday. Next to him was a suitcase containing his clothes. Police are investigating child abandonment and are still trying to trace the little boy’s parents. He is currently in a place of safety in Crossroads.
“We as citizens need to take responsibility and make sure our children are safe (at) all times. We cannot only rely on the government to solve this problem. The education process… Parents must not let their kids run around only in panties in the streets,” Matla A Bana manager Monique Strydom said on Wednesday.
Children in disadvantaged communities were more vulnerable, she said.
“We are in an environment where children are at risk. It has become so easy to abduct a child and do whatever you want to do.”
Anesipho’s mother had last seen her playing with friends outside her house on Tuesday. Her disappearance sparked an around-the-clock search by about 70 residents, police and members of the Tafelsig Neighbourhood Watch.
“She just came from school and went to play outside. She does not go out to play often. She was playing in front of the house. I noticed she disappeared when I went to call her to tell her she must come and switch on the lights,” Linomtha Hokwana said.
“I went to ask the neighbour if she had seen her and they told me she had just left. I then went to the second neighbour and they also told me she just left their house.”
Hokwana, who refused to be photographed, said she had been unable to eat or sleep after the girl went missing.
Tafelsig Neighbourhood Watch member Keith Marhota said: “The community has also come in to help. We have searched just about every house in the section.”
Police spokesman Andre Traut said police thanked community structures and residents for their help.
Cape Times