Jim Mohlala|Published
Residents’ frustration over the search for a missing 12-year-old girl spilled onto the streets of Hout Bay on Tuesday night, with tyres set alight outside the police station and unverified reports of motorists and pedestrians being harassed.
The girl was later found safe, but claims that the station was “shut down” and that violence occurred had not been independently confirmed.
Child found unharmed
Western Cape SAPS spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala confirmed the protest was sparked by the search for the missing girl.
“This office confirms that a group of protesters gathered outside Hout Bay police station last night.
She said they were demanding action for a missing 12-year-old girl.
“The child was found unharmed, and the crowd dispersed. At this stage, no injuries were reported,” said Gwala.
Loyiso Skoti, chairperson of the Imizamo Yethu Development Forum, told IOL Media the Grade 6 learner was allegedly beaten by her mother on Monday night.
“She ran away and didn’t come back home, and the mother panicked, and the community was made aware,” Skoti said.
He said people gathered the following day to search with police and Community Police Forum (CPF) members.
“The search started at 3pm and went on until after 5,” he said.
After 5pm, without a trace of the child, the community approached the police for a way forward.
Concerns over police resources
Skoti said residents raised concerns about why police did not use dogs to search.
“The police mentioned that dog search means that people have to be moved, and that is not easy in a township. As the chair of Imizamo Yethu Development, I disagreed with what was said,” he said.
Skoti said tensions rose when community members standing outside the police station saw officers in a lengthy conversation with the child’s parent inside.
“The community started panicking because there was a long talk inside and it was getting late,” he said.
“That’s when people went to the circle and started to burn tyres.”
“It’s something that no one could control,” he said.
He said community leaders told people the search would continue from 6.30pm or 7pm, while teams were still being organised to cover the rest of the area.
The girl was eventually found by local children.
According to Skoti, she had spent the night on the mountain because she was too scared to go home.
“She slept in the mountain because she was scared to come back, fearing that the mother would beat her again,” Skoti said.
Before 8pm, the forum took the girl to the police station, where she underwent a social worker’s assessment and was seen by a doctor.
“The child is safe; nothing happened,” Skoti said.