Cele challenges parents to act

POLICE minister Police Bheki Cele has called on parents to take responsibility for their children and to “know where they are”, as this was the first step to preventing crimes against the young and vulnerable.

Cele was speaking at Rippon Primary School in Sydenham, Durban, during the memorial service of 9-year-old Miguel Louw, who was abducted and murdered.

Cele said there was a need to “enhance the preventative measures rather than the reactive measures” when it came to crimes against children.

“We need to work with the parents and family and community units to preach this gospel of extra vigilance. This issue should not be sectoral and left only up to the Department of Education, the police, or Department of Social Development. It’s for all of us,” said Cele.

He said it was up to parents, first and foremost, to co-ordinate activities to make schools safe places. “We should never transfer the responsibility of not knowing how safe our kids are to the hands of strangers or people we think we know.

“I’m told the suspect was known to the family. He was not a stranger. Which makes my point that you must know who you are allowing to put their hands on your children.

“I’m not going to shy away from this one. Parents have the primary responsibility, more than anyone,” said Cele.

He told the Department of Education to “clean itself up” and remove teachers who abuse or sexually assault pupils.