How do I protect my child from going missing?

SAPS advises parents to teach your child these 5 rules:

Further steps to take:

Eyewitness News (EWN) has put together an in-depth feature on missing children. Here are some great tips on keeping our children safe. Click here to read more: http://ewn.co.za/Features/Without-a-trace

Make sure your children are aware of their neighbourhood

• Set geographical boundaries past which they are not allowed to roam. 
• Teach them to take the same route to places they regularly visit, for instance the park, or a local shop. 
• Make sure they know all the safe havens in the neighbourhood: the local police station or clinic. 

Set boundaries 

• Make it a rule that your children are not allowed to go anywhere without asking permission from you first. 
• Ask them to be back at a certain time.
• Make sure you know their friends and have up-to-date contact details for them. 

Empower your child

• Teach your child their own name and address, as well as your name and telephone number. 
• Teach them about the 'buddy system' and insist that they do not venture out without at least one friend accompanying them. 
• Teach them to trust their instincts and to say 'no' if they feel uncomfortable in a situation. 
• Practise safety skills with your child and rehearse what they should do in a dangerous situation. That way the behaviour becomes second nature to them. 
• Work out a family safe word, and tell your child that they should only accompany unknown adults who can give them the correct safe word. 

Empower yourself

• In the event that a child goes missing, do not delay in reporting it to the police. 
• The most recent photograph of the child will assist the search or investigation, and to this end SAPS recommends that you keep updated pictures of your children. 
• Know where their medical records are located and consider keeping DNA samples on hand. 
• The police will expect the parent or guardian to provide a clear description of what the child was wearing at the time of disappearance and any distinctive features or marks on the child need to be mentioned to the police.