Four youngsters from Sonop Primary School walking home in the pouring rain fled for their lives from an alleged kidnapper last Wednesday.
Luckily, a woman from a nearby farm, Kathy*, came to their rescue when she found them hiding in the bushes.
Kathy told Paarl Post she only recalls what the children had told her and that she did not have a first-hand eyewitness account of the events.
“It was a very rainy day, and I asked them what they were doing. They were soaking wet, very scared and terrified.”
She said the group consisted of a boy, plus three girls between 6 and 9 years.
“They said they ran to my farm close to the school to escape a man that was chasing them in his car.”
She immediately reported the incident on a Drakenstein Farm Watch group.
The children told Kathy that they were walking home from school when a ‘fat man driving a small maroon car’ stopped and offered them a lift. When they refused the suspect allegedly threatened the children and started to chase them with his vehicle. They managed to run onto the farm and hide.
“I gave them food and took them home in my bakkie. They were still very scared and also worried that they were going home so late.”
She said the parents reacted well and told her they would report the incident to Sonop Primary School.
The Western Cape Education Department is aware of the allegations made in this kidnapping attempt. However, spokesperson Bronagh Hammond emphasized that this was not a school related incident.
“The parent community was informed of the incident and the possible steps to ensure learner safety.”
Hammond commented that while school bodies cannot be responsible for the safety of children when they are out in the community, they do play a role to inform them and their parents of possible dangers like this incident.
“Schools should ensure that learners are aware of stranger danger. While we do not want to frighten them, they must know that they should be wary and run away if any stranger approaches them.
“They should also not accept any free food, drinks, money or objects from strangers and should report any suspicious characters to an educator or administrator at the school as soon as possible.”
The spokesperson for Paarl police, Capt Louise du Plessis, said a case was not officially opened with the police.
“Sgt Johnita Waries was sent to meet with the school principal. He said that he did not report an official case, because he did not have any form of proof. However, he ensured that the parents were informed of the incident and to be very vigilant and take care of their children’s arrivals and departures from the school,” Du Plessis said.
*Name changed to protect source’s identity.
