The police in Mpumalanga deny an allegation that is making the rounds that dozens of children have been kidnapped in this province and that police officers have a part in it.
The police shoot down fires after a voice message is distributed on social media in which a woman claims that 27 children were recently kidnapped in Doornkop, Middelburg.
It is claimed in the voicemail that a certain woman is involved in the kidnapping of the children and that she is offered R10 million to hand over the kidnapped children to some person(s) in this industry.
“The police in Mpumalanga want to make it clear that there is nothing of this nature and that there has never been an incident reported about 27 children missing or kidnapped in the area of Doornkop,” says col. Donald Mdhluli, police spokesperson.
Mdhluli says there is also no record at any of the police stations in the province that shows that a woman was attacked by a mob after the kidnapping of children, as claimed in the voicemail.
“It is regrettable that people make a mockery of serious issues of crime and then post, share or forward such sensational content that has no truth except to attract the attention of unsuspecting and innocent citizens.
“The South African Police Service (SAPS) challenges the person who recorded the voice message to come forward and tell the public the truth rather than spreading a fabricated story that is presented as the truth,” says Mdhluli.
Mdhluli says the police are now on the trail of the woman who recorded and distributed the voice message.
“Members of the public who know where she is are requested to come forward so that she can be apprehended quickly,” says Mdhluli.
Lt. Gen. Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, provincial police commissioner, meanwhile warns members of the public to refrain from spreading fabricated stories.
“This kind of behavior tends to gain momentum and has become the norm these days. What worries us most is the tendency to perpetuate lies about criminality, a phenomenon that seriously worries the state as well as citizens.”
