Addressing the Rising Concern of Missing Persons in South Africa

We had the privilege of interviewing two experts on the critical issue of missing persons in South Africa: Bianca van Aswegen, National Co-ordinator and criminologist at Missing Children South Africa, and Katie Moddrau, Country Manager at A21 South Africa, an anti-human trafficking organization.

Highlights:

  1. Timely Reporting: Both experts emphasized the crucial importance of reporting missing persons immediately, as the first 24 hours are critical in these cases.
  2. Human Trafficking Connection: A21 provided insights into how human trafficking often intersects with missing persons cases, highlighting the concept of 'grooming' as a risk factor.
  3. Technology's Role: Social media and technology play a dual role - they can increase risks but are also valuable tools in locating missing persons.
  4. Community Involvement: Both organizations stressed the importance of community awareness and involvement in preventing and solving missing persons cases.
  5. Prevention Strategies: The experts shared advice for parents and guardians on steps to take to help prevent children from going missing.
  6. Support and Resources: Information was provided on how the public can support organizations working on this issue and what resources are available for affected families.

Our conversation highlighted the complex nature of this issue and the crucial work being done by organizations like Missing Children South Africa and A21. It's clear that addressing the problem of missing persons requires a collaborative effort from law enforcement, NGOs, and the community at large.

For more information or to support these organizations, visit missingchildren.org.za and a21.org.

Let's all play our part in keeping our communities safe and supporting those affected by this issue.

Presenter : Jasnine Roberts

Producer: Lydia M

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rudy van Dieman to summit Table Mountain 365 times in 2022, to raise funds for building a community orphanage

Image
Rudy van Dieman, who has partnered with Angels South Africa, an organisation based in Colorado Park, Mitchells Plain, will summit Table Mountain 365 times in 2022, to raise funds for building a community orphanage. Angels SA wants to purchase a house that will become a safe house for children. ‘’Farieda Moses, [Founder of AngelsSA] has been a role model to me since I knew her. She took us on a camp and we stayed in contact after that ,and we done various charity work together. Just her will, and her strength that I see in her - she wants to make such a big change, but don’t have the necessary tools, so it will take years to fund her dream, and I came up with the crazy idea to give it a year and do my part to raise those funds and build that house,’’ said van Dieman. He aims to raise R1 Million through backabuddy https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/angels-sa-project-365 PICTURED: Rudy van Dieman Sakhi Sizwe · Rudy Van Dieman summits Table Mountain to raise funds to ...
Read more

800 million people around the world are living with obesity.

Image
  4th of March is observed as World Obesity Day and we spoke to CEO Professor Pamela Naidoo and Dietitian Kinza Hussian from The Heart and Stroke Foundation.  So according to the World Obesity Federation, 800 million people around the world are living with obesity. And then also in South Africa almost 65% of women and 30% of men are classified as being overweight or obese. So being overweight or obese increases your risk of having a heart disease or even a stroke, as well as numerous other health problems including high blood pressure or diabetes.  Obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat in the body, but it's also very important, you know, where that fat lies.  Bear in mind checking body mass index is something which I'm sure most people are aware of, it's that quick calculation everyone can just do, which is your weight in kgs divided by your height in meter squared, so if that number is greater than 30, that's when we'd say someone's ob...
Read more

In May we recognize Child Protection Week!

Image
Child Protection Week is an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness about the rights and well-being of children. It typically includes a series of events, campaigns, and activities aimed at promoting child safety, preventing abuse, and advocating for policies and practices that support children's healthy development.  Molo Songololo is a registered non-profit organization that promotes the rights and protection of children and youth, and especially girls. Their work aligns with the goals of Child Protection Week, focusing on advocacy, education, and empowerment to create a safer and more inclusive environment for children. Sakhisizwe got to speak with Patric from Molo Songololo. In our conversation we discussed the programs they have implemented to support children's rights and protection looking specifically about their programs for young girls who are the most at risk. We were informed of their collaborations with local communities, schools, and government agencies a...
Read more