Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Vincent Cruywagen
Published on 2024-03-05 07:43:16
As the search for Joslin Smith continued on Tuesday morning, police investigators urged the public to avoid spreading false information on social media and recording search efforts, as it could potentially harm the investigation. Residents in Diazville, Saldanha, joined in the search for the Grade 1 Diazville Primary School pupil who was last seen on 19 February wearing a light-blue T-shirt and light-blue denim shorts.
William Bird, the director of Media Monitoring Africa, expressed deep concern over the fake reports circulating about the missing child. He emphasized the harmful impact of misinformation on social media, especially when it involves a missing child. Bird called on those responsible for creating false content to consider the distress it causes to the family and loved ones of the missing child.
On Monday night, reports surfaced claiming that forensic tests on bloodstained clothes found on Saturday confirmed they belonged to Joslin. However, the police were unable to verify this information. Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Malcolm Pojie confirmed the discovery of clothing stained with blood during a search, which was sent for forensic analysis. While rumors circulated about a potential arrest on Tuesday, the police did not confirm this.
Saldanha Bay Municipality mayor Andre Truter expressed dissatisfaction with the police scaling back the search for Joslin. This led to a political spat involving Western Cape premier Alan Winde, Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, and mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith. The DA accused ANC Minister of Police Bheki Cele of withdrawing SAPS from the search, prompting a response from Cele condemning the politicization of the search efforts.
Billy Claasen, executive director of the Rural and Farmworkers Development Organisation involved in the search, emphasized the importance of allowing law enforcement to conduct their investigation without political interference. He called on political parties to respect the work of the police in solving crimes.
Despite the challenges and criticisms, the search for Joslin Smith continued to intensify with additional resources and support. Western Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Novela Potelwa reported that the search party had been bolstered by the local South African Navy, a large group from the City of Cape Town, and firefighters from the Saldanha Bay Municipality. Specialized units like the mounted unit and K9 dogs were deployed to assist in the search, with detectives from the SAPS provincial office in Cape Town joining efforts on the ground.
Minister of Police Bheki Cele reiterated the commitment of the police to find Joslin and encouraged collaboration with anyone who could provide valuable information. The community of Diazville remained hopeful as efforts to find the missing six-year-old girl continued relentlessly.
In conclusion, despite the challenges and political tensions surrounding the search for Joslin Smith, law enforcement and community members remained dedicated to finding her and bringing her home safely. It is crucial for the public to refrain from spreading misinformation and allow the authorities to conduct their investigation effectively. The priority should always be the well-being and safe return of the missing child.
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