The South African Police Service (SAPS) has released a statement warning against fake news following a spike in video clips on social media platforms depicting cases of child kidnappings.
The police say since the posts have gone viral, they have been trying to confirm whether the depictions did or did not occur in any part of South Africa.
Police say there is no evidence to suggest that these incidents happened in the country. They say no family has come forward to confirm the authenticity of any of the videos.
The City’s Mayco member for safety and security JP Smith says they have been inundated by queries and fear created by the issue.
Recently, there have been incidents of child kidnappings in the city, but these were not accompanied by video clips.
On Saturday September 1, an eight-year-old girl was abducted in Goodwood after being out with a family friend. The girl has been returned to her family home in Bishop Lavis.
Police are investigating the matter.
In another incident, the body of nine-year-old Previledge Mabvongwe was found near a dump in Kraaifontein. She was last seen on her way home from school.Â
No arrest has been made.