Strategy needed to address abduction of people - parliamentary statement (13 October 2005)In recent months there have been a spate of such incidents, the majority of which have ended in tears for the families.
Clearly, what we are facing is an epidemic. What was once a rarity has now become a crime that occurs with sickening regularity.
As we have suggested previously the time has come for the establishment of specialised kidnapping task teams within the South African Police Service, with at least one team per province. These teams can consist of the best and brightest detectives and forensic specialists. Whenever a kidnapping or suspected abduction is reported these teams can be assembled to deal with the investigation. Whenever no investigations are under way they can continue with their ordinary duties. The benefit of such a system would be to develop a core group of specialists in abduction without permanently depriving the SAPS of their services for other types of cases.
For such task teams to be successful they must be assembled and deployed quickly and have adequate resources at their disposal.
We can no longer delay; action is needed because we cannot countenance this despicable crime becoming commonplace.