The increasing reports of children being kidnapped is disturbing and authorities need to be transparent about all kidnapping cases, Amnesty International South Africa said.
There has been a report of another alleged kidnapping of a primary school pupil in Mayfair Johannesburg on Wednesday, a week after the four Moti brothers were returned to their family.
“It is extremely disturbing that children are targets,” Amnesty International South Africa Executive Director Shenilla Mohamed said.
“While we are relieved that the four Moti brothers, who were abducted in October, have been returned to their family, there has been very little information on what happened and what led to the children being released. It is also important for authorities to be open and transparent about the issue and about who they believe are behind this spate of abductions and what they are doing to prevent further kidnappings.
“We understand that authorities cannot give details while they are tracking the perpetrators, but they can reveal the truth in bringing forth justice. The people of South Africa have a right to know what is going on,” Shenilla Mohamed said.
“The authorities must get to the bottom of the kidnappings and bring those involved to justice.”
Background
The four Moti brothers were reportedly kidnapped by seven gunmen on their way to school in Polokwane in October and were released three weeks later.
Two children were also abducted in eMalahleni, Mpumalanga recently. They have been returned home safely and the perpetrator arrested.
On Wednesday TimesLive reported that four men in a getaway silver Toyota Yaris allegedly kidnapped a primary school pupil in Mayfair, Johannesburg.
For more information or to request an interview, please contact:
Genevieve Quintal, Media and Communications Officer, Amnesty International South Africa: +27 (0)64 890 9224; genevieve.quintal@amnesty.org.za
