MEC says WC kidnapping pranks causing unnecessary panic

Leonie Pretorius

17 June 2016

The Western Cape Social Development Department has raised concern around a series of pranks involving child kidnappings.

Over the past three weeks, several warnings have been doing the rounds on social media about kidnappers preying on young children near schools and at shopping malls.

However, authorities have confirmed the warnings are indeed fake. Provincial Social Development MEC Albert Fritz says this hoax is causing parents unnecessary panic.

He says they call on communities to take the issue of child safety seriously.

They cannot afford to have these calls that something happened here and then it is not so as a lot of government resources go into that.

He urges people not to be irresponsible.