CHILD KILLINGS IN WESTERN CAPE
CHILD KILLINGS IN WESTERN CAPE
Today, the Standing Committee on Social Development was briefed by the Western Cape Department of Social Development and the South African Police Service (SAPS) on the coordinated interventions, data-driven strategies, and legislative measures aimed at addressing the alarming surge in child killings across the province.
The statistics presented paint a deeply distressing picture. Between 2022 and 2024, a total of 557 children lost their lives in the Western Cape due to violent crime. Of particular concern is the increase in killings among children aged 10 to 14 years, which rose from 24 in 2023 to 32 in 2024. Although there has been a marginal decrease in some age groups, such as 15 to 19 years (from 143 in 2023 to 136 in 2024), the overall number remains unacceptably high.
For the period of 2024 alone, 197 children were murdered in our communities.
Between 1 April and 31 August 2025, SAPS recorded 63 child murders across the Western Cape, with the highest incidents occurring in known gang-afflicted areas:
• Kraaifontein – 11.1%
• Philippi East – 7.9%
• Delft – 6.3%
• Nyanga – 6.3%
• Mfuleni – 6.3%
These numbers represent young lives stolen, families shattered, and communities left traumatised. Behind each figure is a story of pain and injustice, many of which are linked to the systemic and growing issue of gangsterism, particularly in our most vulnerable and marginalised communities.
Wendy Kaizer-Philander, MPP, DA Western Cape Spokesperson on Social Development said: “As the Democratic Alliance in the Western Cape, we are deeply concerned about the prevalence of violence directed at children, and the role that gangs and organised crime continue to play in perpetuating these acts of brutality. These killings are not random - they are a direct symptom of communities held hostage by criminal networks, where children are often caught in crossfires or deliberately targeted to send a message.”
#KASIBC_AUDIO CLICK HERE :
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OSHzcn2Ml5r4ZUkeeQPTfLNJjKgV3cIc/view?usp=drivesdk
We commend the efforts of the Western Cape Department of Social Development and SAPS for their multi-sectoral and data-driven responses. However, these interventions must be intensified, better coordinated, and sufficiently funded. Our children deserve to live in safe environments, free from fear and violence.
We call on national government to partner more robustly with the province and invest in:
• Increased visible policing and intelligence-led operations in high-risk areas.
• Expanded social services for children and youth exposed to violence.
• Community-based gang prevention and early intervention programmes.
• Strengthening the criminal justice system to ensure swift and effective prosecution of perpetrators.
The killing of even one child is a tragedy. The ongoing loss of hundreds is a national crisis. It is time we, as a collective society, say: Enough is enough. Our children’s lives must be protected at all costs
Comments
Post a Comment
KASIPEOPLE