CHILD'S PLAY

Is it not terrifying so to see how many different kinds of bottom-feeders are now beginning to slither up to the surface, up inflict their heinous ways on our scary modern world. I am talking about the lowest of the low and their malignant clientele. I'm talking about child traffickers. Do you know that a child gets kidnapped about every 30 seconds in South Africa, apparently the majority of the victims destined to feed the skin trade in the Middle and Far East?

So these abductor traders are busy little bunnies, looking for kids both male and female between 4 and 12 years, and between 16 and 22 years of age. But good news: from what I can gather, abductors are not sexist or racist, so no matter what your cultural background, there's a good chance your child could be eligible. Then of course, there is the conversation about maltreatment and abuse. Fortunately most times, the abducted child is injected with a cocktail that paralyses him or her (including vocal chords) so hey, no chance of disturbing people that may be hovering close by. How thoughtful. And their thoughtfulness goes even further: kids are packaged in cardboard boxes (still fully conscious but of course, paralysed) and then piled up to a 140 at a time in dark dank containers for the 21 day journey to their new loving homes and bright futures, with 139 other paralysed terrified kids, . Okay, so no Noddy badges for guessing that with 140 paralysed, frightened kids, in pitch-dark unventilated containers on the open seas for 21 days with only one bottle of water for sustenance, there might be a good chance of some becoming sick or dying, because you would be absolutely right. Apparently only about 4 out of the total of around 140 arrive alive. The others die en route. I suppose it must be a little irritating for the 3 or 4 survivors to be shacked up with a whole mass of decaying young corpses in a container for 2 or 3 weeks. But there is good news and light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak, it seems the abductors' business model can still make a profit with only 2 survivors. Now that is a good business! But enough of trivial dealings... on a brighter note, our President has just been to China - and good news: they are going to give us R66 billion for development, no strings attached! And it has just been officially announced, pigs really can fly.... I wonder if the subject of child trafficking and human rights abuses came up? Probably not, methinks he was over their to discuss much more important issues. ...But in the meantime, when you go to tuck your beautiful children warmly in bed, and kiss them goodnight this evening, try say a little prayer and spare some concerned thoughts for the scared young child sitting in silence and total darkness with his 140-odd paralysed travel companions on their first night out of the docks and on the open seas, heading inexorably for the new life of hell awaiting the lucky ones, only 20 days away...