Pleas for action against child killings

Organisations distressed by alarming prevalence in province

THE child killings in the Western Cape have prompted civil society groups and individuals to call for urgent action to stem the tide. Since the beginning of the year, more than 22 children have been killed in the province. Organisations from across the Western Cape working with women and children attended the Child Protection Forum, which was held in Wynberg yesterday. Lesley Muller, from Hope Hanover Park, said 15 people were killed last month.

“Since the beginning of the month, six more people were killed. In our community we have hitmen who are as young as nine years old. When one of the police officers from Hanover Park recently talked to one of these boys, the child burst out crying. We need to do something to help these kids,” she said.

Director of the Trauma Centre Valdi van Reenen-le Roux has been lobbying for a commission of inquiry for a year. The centre approached Western Cape Premier Helen Zille about a commission of inquiry into child killings. Instead, Zille said she wanted research done on the killings. This would entail an in-depth study of at least six children who were killed.

Director of UCT’s Children’s Institute, Professor Shanaaz Mathews, said one in four children in South Africa had experienced abuse. She said 56% of children experienced physical abuse.

“We need a child-protection register. During my work, I have found that most children who were killed were under the age of five years old. There are also other forms of child abuse which are not being reported. Action needs to be taken about children who are being killed. Children get affected by violence that they experience in the house and they take on that violent behaviour. A lot of money is also spent on response, and not preventative measures,” said Mathews.

She further said that substance abuse played a role in violence against children, adding that in African countries such as Uganda, children are involved in anti-violent programmes at schools.

Joan Arries, from Community Chest, also said it was important for organisations to take action against the killing of children. “Not a week goes by without a child being killed. We have to admit that we are failing our children. The nine-yearold Aqueel Davids (from Ocean View) was killed in his home,” she said.

THE TRAUMA CENTRE APPROACHED PREMIER HELEN ZILLE ABOUT A COMMISSION OF INQUIRY