Swazi Observer

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258 CHILDREN QUIT SCHOOL IN FEAR OF BEING KIDNAPPED

By Sifiso Nhlabatsi | 2018-06-14

A centre for children known as Mafutseni Children’s Cup Care Point is facing a serious challenge after 258 children absconded from school in fear of being kidnapped and killed for ritual purposes.

The Care Point on Monday only recorded an attendance of seven children out of 265.

This has prompted the teachers from the Care Point to call an urgent meeting with the parents to find a solution on what should be done in order to protect the children while they are on their way to and from school.

The meeting between members of the community, parents, teachers and the police was held yesterday at the Care Point situated at the premises of the Swedish Free Church (Mafutseni).

Addressing parents during the meeting, one of the teachers Zine Mkhwanazi said they have been left with seven children out of 265. Mkhwanazi said children are now afraid to come to school because they fear being kidnapped.

Explaining more about the Care Point, Mkhwanazi said they have about 265 with 45 children attending Pre-School while the rest are at Day Care.

She said the Care Centre known as Children’s Cup which is under the Swedish Church has a Bible Club and a Youth Club that engage the youth in a lot of activities.

incident

Mkhwanazi said the reason children are now afraid to come to the school is because of the incident which happened last month where by a 16-year-old boy identified as Musa* escaped from the clutches of three knife wielding men who had cornered him in a forest and tried to slice his throat in what was believed to be a ritual murder attempt.

Musa escaped and was admitted to RFM hospital. Mkhwanazi said Musa is one of the children who benefited from the centre and what happened to him scared everyone, more so, because the spot where the attempt to end Musa’s life was made is the same spot where the children pass on their way to school.

Mkhwanazi said it was for that reason that the school decided to call a meeting whereby they hoped to come up with a solution on how they keep their children safe.

Parents suggested that someone with a vehicle must be hired to transport the children to and from school.

Another idea was that when parents register their children they must also give full details of the person who will pick up their child in the afternoons so that not just anyone can come.

Sergeant Elvis Magagula from Mafutseni Police Station, Crime Prevention Department asked that parents not to let emotions cloud their thinking. Magagula said as police they heard their grievances and will act on them.

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