South African parents do not feel that their children are safe in this country and would instead rely on security companies and the neighbourhood watch to assist if their children are in danger.
Action Society conducted another police trust indicator survey – Are your children safe in South Africa? – to test parents’ responses to child safety, kidnapping risk, and feelings towards the South African Police Service (SAPS). The results proved what we suspected.
A great majority of 97,39% of parents do not feel it is safe for their children to play in a park or ride a bicycle alone. Furthermore, 93% fear that their children may be kidnapped.
If something were to happen to their children or if they were in danger, only 6% would call the police. Most people – 53% – would call on a security company, and 41% would contact their neighbourhood watch.
Sadly, but not surprisingly, only 13,51% of South African parents teach their children they can trust the police.
“Statistics like these should be a wake-up call to the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele,” said Kaylynn Palm, Action Society’s Action Centre coordinator. “If only six per cent of a country’s population would entrust their children’s safety to the body which is supposed to be the primary protector, there is something seriously wrong.
“Our crime statistics show that almost 1 200 children were murdered and more than 7 500 children were seriously assaulted this past year. Obviously, this should be a priority for the government and the police, but if no one trusts them, the only solution would be to rethink the current strategy and management.”
To support Action Society’s campaign to remove Bheki Cele as Minister of Police to ensure a better functioning SAPS, follow this link.
