Parents encouraged to register kids on database
Representatives of Sacmec (South African Centre for Missing and Exploited Children), a division of the SAPS, visited the Bokkie Park in an attempt to encourage parents to register their kids on its international database on Saturday, December 6.
“We host roadshows at which artists donate their time performing and encouraging parents to register their kids on our international database, which helps police track down kids faster if they are ever reported missing,” says artist Kyle Sivalingam.
Instant alerts will be sent out internationally if the child has been abducted.
Sacmec president, Lieut- Col Fanie van Deventer says the main idea and slogan of these roadshows is to instill the motto of ‘Every child is my Child’ and ‘The safety of my child and loved ones starts at home and stays at home’ in the community.
“We are thus encouraging citizens to start being the eyes and ears of the SAPS.
“The event, as hosted in Boksburg, was the ideal platform for this Sacmec roadshow as it was a matter of from the community, for the community.”
Children and their parents enjoyed the entertainment provided by Sacmec and participated enthusiastically in the fun.
“Not only can music address the missing persons issue in South Africa, but also create awareness among the general public concerning several crimes, especially social crimes, due to the fact that song and music is a universal language.
“People, especially in South Africa, live to the beat,” says Van Deventer.
Several of these roadshows were held during the past two years and are held at least once a month at a different venue.
Sacmec even has a ‘spokesperson’ named Chirpie that talks to children at these roadshows. Chirpie is one of the artists dressed up in a parrot suit that teaches the children and gives them hints on how to stay safe and what to do in dangerous situations.
Sacmec has a success rate of close to a 100 000 children registered on this database from these roadshows. – @IschkeBoksburg
