New Missing Persons & GBV Unit launched in Mitchell's Plain

Various organisations advocating for child safety, launched a missing persons unit in Mitchell's Plain, on Wednesday.

The new initiative - in collaboration with the South African Police Service, CPFs, Philisa Abafazi Bethu and Cape Flats Safety forum and Western Cape Local Government - is called ‘’The Collective Missing Persons and Gender-Based Violence Unit.’’

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Lucinda Evans, a community activist, and director from Philisia Abafazi Bethu explains that the idea was galvanized by the disappearance of 6-year-old Joshlin Smith from Saldahna Bay.

‘’I think with everything that is going on around us, we know where government is at the moment and we know the steps that they have to take. The idea for the collaboration came about where I called strategic leadership together and I want to say, as a disclaimer colleagues, that the situation with children in our country and in our province is dire. If our children are not shot and killed, if they are not raped or abused, then they go missing. We understand resources in terms of Government. Today is the day of active citizenry – we are saying to SAPS and local Government that the support is here to assist with effort of missing children.’’

‘’We took a leaf from the Joshlin case, but I would like to say a Joshlin case should not be like a Joshlin case. Active citizenry should be where we go to the SAPS and say here is a group, what can we do. The police manages and instructs what to do. Within this collaboration, we are saying we are not police officers; we are ordinary citizens who want to do extraordinary with police. Collaboration takes the ego and shego out of collaboration – we work together with our expertise. Sometimes they will tell us to back off, which is okay.’’

Evans also elaborated on the Gender Based Violence Unit

‘’When you get on an active case of GBV, we will do our bit as the police do their job. Our bit is the securing and safety of the client or person. There are various organisations like Philisa Abafazi Bhetu.’’

Lynn Phillips from the Cape Flats Safety Forum reminded residents that there are no waiting period to report a missing person

‘’We are seeing too many things happening where people do not follow protocol. Have a recent photo, check your child’s friend group, who do they go with, what did they have on. We want to inculcate to parents that they should not wait if there child is missing, but to report it immediately.

Phillips says more than 30 volunteers have been trained and equipped to assist authorities in searches. She says the volunteers has a ‘wealth of experience’ in finding missing persons. She says some of the volunteers began when 11-year-old girl, Anestacia Wiese from Mitchell’s Plain was reported missing in March 2007. Her body was sadly found in the ceiling of her home and the girls’ mother’s boyfriend, was arrested for the crime.

‘’Majority of female volunteers are unemployed mothers and they have been volunteers since 2002, and because of that they have the passion to serve communities and we need to take ownership of the community.’’

The volunteers underwent first aid training which is valid for 2 years.

PHOTO - Mitchum George: Various organisations with volunteers who are part of The Collective Missing Persons and Gender-based Violence Unit.

Byron De Villiers from the Lentegeur Community police Forum, expressed gratitude for the collaboration.

‘’This unit comes with different specialties – CPFs, civil organisations, and dog unit – we don’t rely on someone going forward it’s about what resources we offer to SAPS. We are extending our support to SAPS, and we will walk with them throughout. It is about applying ourselves on what the need is’’

The Strandfontein CPF’s Sandy Schuter says the reason for this unit is to serve the community

‘’We are going out to serve the community. It is not about receiving equipment like boots and bibs. We also need to encourage our younger generation to join.’’

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The Cape Flats Safety Forums chairperson, Abie Isaacs, says the priority of the unit is for missing persons to be safe and be reunited with their families.

‘’This is a project that has been running in the Mitchell’s Plain area, since 2002. Our ultimate objective is to find a  missing person, but also sticking to protocol.''

A volunteer, Zaakiera Suit, explains why she wanted to be part of this unit.

‘’Ons is nou al ‘n hele tyd saam met Missing persons, en dis ‘n voorreg om ‘n vermiste persoon te gaan soek, en as hulle die knoppie druk, dan is ons daar.’’ [I have been, for a long time been with Missing Persons organisation, and it is a priviledge to help search for a missing person. We heed the call to help find people.]

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The unit will, for now, only focus on areas on the Cape Flats, but hopes to expand to areas as the unit grows

 

Done By: Mitchum George