Cellphone networks should help children
"Cellphone networks are a powerful tool in many countries to find missing children before they come to harm. Unfortunately, South Africa's three biggest cellphone companies appear to be unenthusiastic about allowing their networks to be used for this purpose," said DA MP Mike Waters.
The party wrote to MTN, Vodacom and Cell C in 2005 asking them if they would be willing to be involved in setting up a similar system in South Africa.
"Only Vodacom responded, but shortly afterwards stopped responding to our requests to set up a meeting. MTN and Cell C did not respond."
The party then wrote to all three companies again this year, without a single response.
The DA suggested something along the lines of the United State' Amber Alert programme.
The scheme uses radio, SMS and MMS (multimedia messaging service) to transmit information and photos across the country within minutes of an abduction being reported.
This scheme has been carried across to Britain and Canada, where it is called Child Rescue Alert.
The DA said that the scheme would not be difficult or expensive to set up since blueprints can be found in many countries.
"The two leading players in this market make literally billions from South African consumers.
"Their unwillingness to give something back to the community in such a beneficial way is extremely disappointing," said Waters.
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