With safety concerns continuing to affect communities across South Africa, security expert Mike Bolhuis is calling on parents to take a more structured and proactive approach to protecting their children.
Through his company, Specialised Security Services (SSS), Bolhuis has released a three-part safety awareness series highlighting the importance of communication, emergency preparedness and rapid response in reducing risks faced by children.
Knowing a child’s whereabouts is key
According to SSS, a growing concern in South African households is the breakdown of consistent communication between parents and children during daily routines.
In an environment marked by unreliable transport, opportunistic crime and unpredictable social conditions, the organisation stresses that knowing a child’s whereabouts is no longer optional, but a critical part of everyday safety management.
Parents are urged to maintain basic awareness of where their children are, who they are with, how they are travelling and when they are expected home.
SSS emphasises that this approach is not about control, but rather about prevention and situational awareness.
The organisation notes that many incidents begin as simple communication failures, such as a dead phone battery, delayed transport or unplanned changes. While not criminal in nature, these situations can quickly escalate into panic due to uncertainty.
After-school hours have been identified as the highest-risk period, with unsupervised waiting, changing plans and unreliable transport increasing vulnerability.
Building confidence through preparedness
In the second part of the series, SSS highlights the need to equip children with practical skills to respond to unexpected situations.
Rather than using fear-based messaging, parents are encouraged to teach clear, actionable behaviour that children can apply under pressure.
Children should be taught to stay visible, seek help from trusted adults and communicate with their parents before any change in plans.
SSS advises that children must clearly understand who qualifies as a trusted adult, including teachers, school staff, security personnel, police officers and parents of known friends.
Basic emergency knowledge is also essential, including memorising a parent’s phone number, surname and home area.
The organisation further recommends practising real-life scenarios such as a late lift, a dead phone or becoming separated in a public space, to help children respond calmly and confidently.
Early response can prevent escalation
The third part of the series focuses on common mistakes made by both children and parents, and the importance of acting quickly when something goes wrong.
SSS investigations show that risk escalation is often the result of multiple small failures in communication and routine, rather than a single major incident.
Children may delay reporting problems, leave safe areas or fail to communicate changes, while parents may rely too heavily on mobile phones or assume their child knows what to do.
The organisation stresses that the first hour in a potential incident is critical, as it offers the best chance of obtaining accurate information and locating a child quickly.
Parents are advised to follow a structured response plan, including contacting the child, confirming arrangements with schools and friends, and documenting all actions taken.
At the same time, SSS warns against panic-driven responses, which can create confusion and delay effective action.
A proactive approach to safety
SSS maintains that effective child safety does not rely on complex systems, but rather on consistent habits, clear communication and practical preparation.
Parents are encouraged to establish routine communication protocols, define expectations clearly and regularly practise safety scenarios within the home.
Bolhuis’s message is clear: prevention begins long before an emergency arises, and a well-prepared child supported by informed parents is significantly less vulnerable to risk.
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