Gauteng Department for Education (GDE) MEC Panyaza Lesufi has expressed deep concern about an alleged abduction of a Grade 5 girl learner which occurred yesterday morning at EP Baumann Primary School in Mayfair, Johannesburg.
In a statement released yesterday, GDE spokesperson Steve Mabona said it was alleged that an 11-year-old Grade 5 girl learner was kidnapped at gunpoint by three men in a silver/white Toyota Yaris with the registration number JS62CS-GP. This happened outside the school gate while she was waiting in line to be sanitised and screened at approximately 07:11AM.
Lesufi pleaded with members of the public who may have information to come forward and report to their nearest police station.
“We are pleading with any member of the public who may have witnessed the abduction or knows anything about this incident to approach relevant law enforcement agencies,” he said.
“We condemn the actions of the criminal elements who prey on young learners and our prayers are with the family and friends of the young learner.
“Our psycho-social unit has been deployed to the school to provide assistance to learners and staff at the school who may be going through the trauma of witnessing this unfortunate incident,” said Lesufi.
Mabona said the police were investigating circumstances surrounding this matter.
“The GDE pleads with anybody who may have more information pertaining to this incident, or may have made any sighting of the vehicle to contact the police,” said Mabona.
The abduction comes after the Moti brothers were released from a similar ordeal last Thursday after being held captive for three weeks in Limpopo.
Zia Moti, 15, and his brothers Alaan, 13, Zayyad, 11, and Zidan, 7, were on their way to school on October 20 when a group of armed men forcefully removed them from their family car which was taking them to school, leaving their driver behind.
Meanwhile, Yusuf Abramjee, a crime activist, took his campaign to Twitter calling for the Presidency and the law enforcement agencies to curb this scourge of kidnappings.
“#Kidnappings I say it: President @CyrilRamaphosa must intervene now and get the @SAPoliceService to act. Criminals are getting away with it. Police inefficiencies are contributing to the problem. These gangs are running amok. International law enforcement must also be brought in,” read his tweet yesterday.
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