Commissioner calls for killings inquiry

THE Western Cape Human Rights commissioner has added his voice to growing calls for an inquiry into child killings, moments after meeting Premier Helen Zille, who previously said such commissions were expensive and needed to be warranted.

Chris Nissen believes a commission is long overdue. Appointed in January, he has been criss-crossing the city’s crime-ravaged communities to engage families about violence against women and children.

“I think the level of these killings warrants an inquiry.”

Zille, writing in the Daily Maverick last month, said the NGOs she had been in discussion with had abandoned dialogue. She was seeking stakeholders’ response to her “proposal for an in-depth expert study into six child murder cases, to inform a decision on the efficacy and appropriateness of establishing a formal commission of inquiry – or whether there are other, more effective steps the provincial government can take within its constitutional mandate, to help prevent child murders”.

She pointed out the commission into policing in Khayel- itsha had been expensive – it cost R13 million for less than a year’s work – but the results had been excellent and measurable, and “worth every cent”.

However, setting up an inquiry “is a statutory process that takes a long time and costs a great deal of money”.

But Nissen responded: “A commission of inquiry is worth it if you look at the number of children killed. The statistics I have show that 54 girls have been killed on the Cape Flats since March. Every opportunity we get to deter killings is important.”

He said an inquiry could have a broad scope, with indabas and multi- pronged approaches to investigate socio-economic circumstances.

Zille and Nissen met at the Premier’s office on Wednesday to discuss violence and his work in the fight against crime in the province.

• Meanwhile, community activist Philip Bam said the Grassy Park Community Policing Forum and police were planning to ensure safe passage to schools and a safer environment for its children.

The plan comes after reports of attempted kidnapping incidents.

“We will not allow this violence to continue,” he said.

PICTURE: BHEKI RADEBE Human Rights commissioner Chris Nissen announces his support for an inquiry into child killings.