Staff Reporter
Free State police are appealing to anyone with information on alleged human trafficking incidents said to be happening around Bloemfontein to come forward and assist.
Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane said in a statement on Wednesday that she viewed all allegations of human trafficking very seriously and urged anyone with information to report to the police.
“People need to remember that whatever the circumstances, such incidents must be reported immediately to the police and there is no waiting period for such a matter to get reported,” said Motswenyane.
All information, according to the statement, will be treated with the strictest confidence and those reporting can choose to remain anonymous.
“We have also deployed operatives on the ground to detect and monitor any suspicious activities,” she added.
Social media has been awash with posts by people who had either witnessed cases of near kidnapping or were simply warning people, particularly women, to be vigilant when out on the streets.
In the past few days, there have been unconfirmed reports in Bloemfontein where two girls were supposedly kidnapped in Universitas with another one almost kidnapped in Willows, a popular student district in the city.
There are also reports of a woman being forcefully dragged into a car in a parking lot at a mall as well as endless reports of suspicious vehicles seen tailing girls or women.
“Unfortunately none of these incidents were reported to the police, and no missing persons were reported within the mentioned period,” said the police statement which stated most of the social media posts appeared on Tuesday.
“We are therefore appealing to anyone who may have information on these (alleged crimes) to contact the police on the Crime Stop number 086 00 10111 or MySAPS App, an application which can be downloaded on any iPhone or Android.”