Cash crunch hits missing kids
2007-12-10 23:08
Candice da Gama
Johannesburg - A shortage of funds has forced the Christmas closure of a website that helps track down missing children.
The website is www.missingchildren.co.za.
Pieter Boshoff, co-ordinator of the website, said that from Tuesday until January 7, the website would not handle any cases of missing children.
"The website simply doesn't have the money to cope with the high number of cases during the festive season and, at this time of the year, there are also fewer volunteers.
"Money is the biggest problem," he said.
"I pay for everything - from cellphones to fuel.
Costs R15 000 a month
"This month, I've already spent R4 000 more than my monthly budget for Missing Children. Unless people offer to help, I just can't afford to keep it open any longer."
Boshoff says it costs more than R15 000 a month to keep the website going.
In December, the amount increases because of a rise in the number of missing children.
In the past 10 days, the website has handled at least 10 cases of missing children.
The emergency line 072 MISSING still will be in operation and refer callers to the right people.
- Beeld