SA leads with critical step

Cyril Ramaphosa, President, South Africa 

South Africa has taken a step other African countries should emulate.

It has become the first country in Africa to join the Facebook Amber Alerts programme which helps to find missing children.

Thus, since the partnership has been officially launched, the South African Police Service can now use the Facebook platform and community to seek assistance from the public when it’s suspected a child has been abducted and there’s reason to believe there’s an immediate and serious risk to its health or welfare.

Through Facebook’s Newsfeed, Amber Alert enables people to instantly share important information about the missing child and suspected abductor, such as a photo, hair colour and clothing with their friends, family and Facebook groups.

By working with law enforcement in helping to share the right information with the right people, Facebook aims to help reunite missing children with their families as soon as possible.

Commenting on the launch, Emily Vacher, Facebook’s Director of Trust and Safety, said, “Amber Alerts is available in more than 20 countries worldwide, with more to follow. We are excited to partner with the South African Police Service to make Amber Alerts available in an African country for the first time.

“Africa is an important and growing market for us, and we are investing in our community across the continent. This partnership is a signal of our commitment to bringing the latest Facebook features to Africa, building communities, and giving people access to digital tools that improve their lives.”