Social media have been abuzz with rumours of attempted abductions of children in Mount Pleasant.
Hermanus police have confirmed no cases of abduction or attempted abduction of minors have been reported, despite the rumours that have spread like a veld fire.
Captain Fadila September, spokesperson for Hermanus police, says there have been at least two allegations of incidents over the weekend. “There were reports on social media of a young man who tried to grab a boy in Aster Street, Mount Pleasant. The boy managed to escape. On Sunday there was an incident in which a Nigerian taxi driver allegedly called young girls saying he had dog food they needed to take to someone. A man who stood close by confronted him about his intentions. Despite the reports on social media nothing was officially reported to the police.”
The police urges the community to report any suspicious-looking activities to the police immediately.
“When you notice a suspicious-looking car, note down the registration number, the colour and make of the vehicle and report this information to the police straight away,” September said. “We have technology that can help to trace the vehicle.”
She cautioned against spreading rumours that could lead to mass hysteria and paranoia. Instead parents should ensure children are safe and supervised.
“The police are maintaining a high visibility by doing regular patrols, so if something happens we can attend to it immediately,” said September.
Similar rumours have been doing the rounds in Caledon. Sergeant Tembi Gweyi reported rumours were spreading about child smugglers allegedly offering drug addicts up to R2 000 to kidnap children from school. Gweyi confirmed no such incidents had been reported and there was no concrete evidence or information regarding such allegations.