Melikhaya Zagagana25 February 2024 | 13:21

Missing Children SA pleads with the public to not post misleading information about Joshin Smith

Despite being untrue, posts on social media were claiming that the six-year-old girl’s body had been found after she went missing from her home in Saldanha Bay almost a week ago.

Missing Children SA pleads with the public to not post misleading information about Joshin Smith

Picture: © sinicakover/123rf.com

CAPE TOWN - Children's rights group Missing Children South Africa pleaded with the public to refrain from posting misleading information about missing six-year-old girl, Joslin Smith.

This comes after posts on social media claimed that Smith’s body had been found after she went missing from her home in Saldanha Bay almost a week ago.

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The search for the girl entered its sixth day, with little clues so far about her whereabouts.

Following Smith's disappearance, residents in Saldanha Bay have taken to social media to share information about the search.

While Missing Children South Africa said it appreciated the collective effort to help find the little girl, it raised concerns about the veracity of some of the information being shared.

National Coordinator for Missing Children South Africa, Bianca Aswegen, warned that some posts were devastating to the Smith family.

“Unfortunately, Joshlin Smith is still currently missing. All effort is being done in the search for her. Everybody, all necessary personnel and teams are currently on the ground in the search for Joshlin. It's a very difficult time for the family."

Aswegen urged the public to rely on official information from the police about the latest on the search.