New organisation to combat kidnapping and sex trade
A new non-profit organisation (NPO) was established mid-June by specialists in human trafficking and missing person cases.
The South African Support Initiative (Sasi) is dedicated to liaising with the community, the SAPS and the Hawks to track down and resolve such cases.
Mike Venter, a Goedeburg resident, and Boksburg-based Wendy Pascoe are among the five co-founders.
According to Venter the goal of Sasi is to assist those who are trying to track down missing persons.
“It costs people R20 000 to hire a private investigator,” he said, explaining that some people do not have that kind of money.
Sasi is also dedicated to exposing human trafficking syndicates.
The organisation is currently also investigating the Desiree ‘Dessie’ Reid case after reopening the docket 17 years later.
Venter said every case is handled differently and that “Sasi really serves the SAPS”.
He explained that the SAPS is under pressure and Sasi is available to help with their workload.
He said the SAPS will sometimes ask for assistance with a case and sometimes they initiate their own investigations, informing the SAPS of developments.
Venter, Pascoe and the other volunteers have extensive experience in the field.
“I was a corporal at seven maintenance units. We handled unrest back in the ’80s,” he said.
Pascoe is the owner of a private investigating company.
The rest of the founding members are owners or in management of security companies.
“Combined, our [missing persons] unit has in excess of 30 years’ experience,” he said.
According to Venter, human trafficking is also a “massive problem” in South Africa as well as the rest of the world and needs urgent attention.
“It would be a fair assumption to say we have about a 70 per cent success rate,” he said.
Sasi’s cases are not restricted to the East Rand.
He said about two months ago the organisation tracked down a woman in her early 20s who was kidnapped by an alleged Über driver in Sandton.
She was forced into the boot of the car upon arrival but Sasi found her unharmed in Hartbeespoort three days later.
Venter said Sasi also assists law enforcement agencies to locate suspects sought for violent crimes such as rape, murder and hijackings, and helps them to recover stolen property.
Sasi relies mostly on community tip-offs for their investigations.
Sasi has branches in Kempton Park and in Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal. A fourth branch in Boksburg will be opening soon.
Venter said the organisation has 18 staff members, but Sasi welcomes all volunteers as they need all the support they can get. Sasi is currently operating from the house of each branch head.
Community members can phone Venter on 079 974 4024 or Pascoe on 064 648 1577 who will provide assistance from Sasi or provide more information about how to get involved.
