Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma says people who torture and murder children have no place in South Africa.
Zuma has expressed shock at the murder of two children -- cousins aged two and three -- whose bodies were found in a public toilet in Diepsloot township, north of Johannesburg.
The murders have sent shockwaves throughout the country, with residents on Tuesday venting their anger by taking to the streets in protests. Police have reportedly confirmed that suspects, who are all from the area, have been arrested.
In another reported incident, the body of a boy, thought to be between four and six-years old, was found in a field in Katlehong on the East Rand, with evidence of torture and abuse before he met his cruel death.
"These gruesome incidents of extreme torture and murder of our children do not belong in the society that we are continuously striving to build together.
“We condemn these murders in the strongest possible terms. Whilst we appeal to the communities not to take matters into their own hands, we also want to urge them to work with law enforcement authorities to find the perpetrators and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law,” Zuma said.
The President also conveyed, on behalf of government and the nation, deepest condolences to the families and the communities. – SAnews.gov.za
