I am really shocked at the fact that this mother was told by the police to wait for 24 hrs before reporting her 6 year old son who was found dead as missing - this is a travesty of jusice not just by the poilce who are too lazy to do their jobs but by the school who closed early because it was payday. Where in the world but in SA do you have to wait 24 hrs to report a 6 year old missing. As a matter of fact - i dont even know that the rule exists here in SA.

Teachers 'sent boy to death'

Jan 30 2005 10:32:04:790AM


Sonia Molema

A six-year-old schoolboy, who went missing after teachers at a Pretoria school had sent pupils early because it was pay day, has been murdered.

Pretoria - A six-year-old schoolboy, who went missing after teachers at a Pretoria school had sent pupils early because it was pay day, has been murdered.

On Wednesday, teachers at Ikeleng Primary School sent pupils home early as they rushed to banks to withdraw their salaries.

Consequently, six-year-old Gosiame "Nas" Baloyi, who is normally fetched by his mother, tried to get home on his own but went missing.

His body was found two days later.

Amelia Baloyi, the boy's mother, intends to sue the North West department of education over the boy's death.

A traumatised Baloyi, of Lebanon, Mabopane, said when she went to fetch her son at the normal time of 13:00 on Wednesday, he was nowhere to be seen. The school was deserted.

"On my way to the school I was surprised to see the streets without schoolchildren. When I reached his school, there was only a Grade R teacher who told me the kids had been sent home early.

"There were no other teachers, not even the principal, as I searched the schoolyard, classrooms and toilets for my son."

Baloyi said she usually fetched her son at about 13:00.

"I normally fetch him from his classroom because he was still very young and I did not want him to get lost.

"Now my son is gone and no one is telling me what really happened to him."

Baloyi said after a two-hour search for her son on Wednesday, she went to Loate police station to report the matter but was told by the police officer that she should wait for 24 hours before any action could be taken.

"I went home in tears and could not sleep without my boy at home.

On Thursday I told my sister to phone the police station again but she was told to wait for 48 hours before they could report the matter."

Two days later, his body was discovered at about 18:30 by two children playing at a nearby soccerfield.

The Mabopane child protection unit's Inspector Shadrack Nthekang said a murder case had been opened. No arrest had yet been made.

He said they had not yet established how the child was killed because of the state of decomposition.

Nthekang said the investigation revealed that other children had seen the boy climbing into a blue Toyota Venture after being called by an unknown woman.

Outraged residents gathered at the family house on Saturday and urged teachers to "get their act together".

The school principal, Dede Maponya, declined to comment.

Department of education Bojanala east region manager Dithakong Khanye said the missing child case was reported to the area project office (APO) by the principal.

He said they would investigate the case and proper procedures would be followed.

"If the school sent children home and teachers knocked off before normal time without getting permisson from us, this is a matter which will be dealt with seriously. The normal time for kids from foundation phase to leave school is 13:00."

What really gets me is why the police did not act or at least make an effort to try and locate this kid. With all the "muti" murders that go on in this country of ours, surely the police could have taken swifter action - andwhat gives the school the right to close early. Are our kids not entrusted to their care and are they not responsible for those kids. I feel that both departments are to blame. The school for closing early and the police for their non-action. This kid is dead because of the desire to draw a salary. ???? :( Damn this makes me so angry.

This is sickeningly heartbreaking and SO unnecessary. That poor little boy and his mom - all of those involved by chasing the children home so that they could go to the bank, should be jailed for MURDER. They are responsible or that little boy would be alive today. Words fail me ..........

First Of All I Cant Believe The Lack Of Care Or Protection For Children That School Has.... She Is Gonna Get A Good Case Against Them.. Because While Children Are At School During Those School Hours At All Time Except For Holidays And Notes In Advance That State Early Release Or School Holidays, The School Is Responsible For The Children.... Second Of All Yes It Is Sad.. But You Can Report Someone Missing However The Police Cant Make The Report Until 24 Hours Later.. That Doesnt Mean That Some Cops Cant Go Investigating.. But Unfortunately Some Of Them Just Dont Care To Try....thats So Sad..

i assume this was not in the USA....i know that the police here sometimes will not take a report for teenagers for 24 hours...or if they are known runaways...it is a sad story..

This happened in South Africa where i live - what i dont understand is when a child is 6 years old - and is missing why does one have to wait 24 hours to report a 6 year old missing. that is ludicrous as far as i am concerned. Especially with all the muti murders that go on here.