Fake Kliprivier 'kidnap' alert leads to arson threat against religious teacher

An innocent owner of an Islamic Foundation was threatened with arson by community members after a fake voice clip was circulated on social media, claiming that 26 children were “ready to be deported for trafficking” from the Kliprivier area.

Gauteng police spokesperson Col Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said officers on Monday responded to a complaint of mob justice at Rietspruit.  

“Upon arrival, they found the owner of an Islamic Foundation, who alleged that community members were accusing him of kidnapping children.

“The children are reported to be staying at the foundation with four caregivers and they attend bible studies after school and on weekends,” she said.  

She said children were taken to the police station for safety as community members were threatening to burn the premises used by the foundation down.

Nevhuhulwi said the social development department was called in and it was established that 16 children, aged between eight and 13, were voluntarily brought to the foundation by their parents to attend Islamic religious classes.  

“Through the assistance of the department of social development, the children were safely collected by their parents.

“The police did not open any criminal case,” she said.  

Nevhuhulwi urged the public to refrain from circulating unconfirmed reports as this could lead to malicious damage to the falsely accused person's property or even cost such a person’s life. 

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