Child’s murder incenses residents
Cele promises crackdown after spate of 50 Cape child killings
ANGRY and despondent residents of Eastridge, Mitchells Plain gathered in the street where the body of Stacey Adams, 6, was found. Mitchells Plain has been a hunting ground for child killers from the notorious Station Strangler to the murderers of Stacha Arendse and most recently, Stacey.
A large crowd gathered seeking answers to questions around the murder of Stacey, whose body was found in a shallow grave next to a wendy house in De la Rey Street.
Incensed residents petrol bombed the wendy house and set it alight on Sunday evening.
Bonita Wood from the local community policing forum said the justice system must be held accountable.
“Because what makes people angry is to see the same people who committed murder and crime walking in that same street the following day,” she said.
“Our areas are full of gangsterism, killings and robberies, how can one kill an innocent child like this?” she asked.
More than 50 children were killed in the province last year and numerous calls were made for some sort of intervention, including the appointment of a commission of inquiry into the spate of killings.
Yesterday Police Minister Bheki Cele visited the family and addressed the community. “This incident needs proper investigation and whoever in the police must take their duty serious and do their job,” said Cele. “We have taken the Western Cape on a special way of doing things, where we will be visiting Operation Thunder base camps, our aim is to reduce incidents of serious crime.”
Stacey’s grandmother, Laeeqah Adams, described her as a loving child. Her mother Sahalee Adams was too distraught to be interviewed.
“Stacey was a loving, kind and caring child who should still be here with us. Stacey is going to be very well missed,” said Laeeqah. “She was a very talkative child, who liked to compliment us in the family.”
Stacey’s aunt, Portia Daniels, said Stacey loved everyone. “She had lots of friends because of how she related with everyone.
“Stacey would greet you until she got a response, she wouldn’t take no for an answer,” said Daniels.
Edna Hockey, the principal of Beacon View Primary School, where Stacey attended as a Grade 1 pupil, visited the family and described her as a quiet and well-mannered girl.
“She always challenged and was talkative,” said Hockey.
A suspect is to appear in court soon.
THE life of yet another young child has been cut short, this time in Mitchells Plain where the body of 6-year-old Stacey Adams was found in a shallow grave in a backyard on Sunday.
Community members firebombed the house of the suspect who has since been taken into custody. This newspaper reported on this horrific incident at a time two men, Mortimer Saunders and Odwa Nkololo, are appearing in the Western Cape High Court in connection with the murders of two young girls, 3-year-old Courtney Pieters, who was allegedly raped and murdered in 2016, and Iyapha Yamile, a 4-year-old who allegedly suffered the same fate last year.
The common denominator in the three crimes is that they were allegedly perpetrated by men – men who knew the victims.
This is a shocking and sickening reality in many such crimes. It is an indictment on society that the lives of helpless little girls are taken in this manner. How many more children must we lose in this way? How many families must be devastated?
Those in authority must get their act together, stop talking and start tackling the challenges – socio-economic and otherwise that contribute to these crimes. Residents in all communities must report suspicious behaviour and speak out against crime.
Following little Stacey’s murder, the anger displayed by the Mitchells Plain community is understandable but not helpful. What is needed is vigilance and keeping an eye on children all the time, especially during school holidays.
In some child murders the parents of the vitims have been left wanting. We call on the Social Development and Justice departments to deal decisively with mothers and fathers who neglect to take proper care of their kids. We also urge the justice system to exact the harshest punishment possible on child rapists and murderers. Throw away the keys and ensure they are never returned to society.
All children have the right to be protected. The fulfilment of this right becomes the responsibility of every family member, all neighbours as well as the community at large. If everyone works together and treat each child as their own, it will send a strong message to the scum who consider harming children.