Alarming statistics for Western Province

By Cindy Witten
15 November 2008

It has been reported that more children have been reported missing in the Western Cape compared to that of other Provinces in the country. The latest statistics released by government reveal that this year 448 children have been reported missing from their homes in the Western Cape with, in second place, 311 cases opened in Gauteng.

Social workers say that the statistics reflect the disheartening situations in the lives of young children and the challenges they face at home. Also, many parents are unaware of where their children are at any given time.

Quite often, older children, between 14 and 17 years of age are runaways, while it is more likely that children under the age of 14 have who are reported missing have in fact been abducted.