Pretoria – The Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana, has expressed her sadness at the recent brutal murders, rapes, assault and abuse committed against the country’s children.
This follows the death of two toddlers, aged two and three, in Diepsloot township, who went missing on Saturday. Their bodies were found on Tuesday in an open public toilet in the area.
On Wednesday, the two bodies of sisters aged one and three, were also found in an abandoned building in Zonkizizwe, Katlehong. The toddlers were found lying next to their mother, who was in a bad health condition and had to be admitted to hospital.
Xingwana said her department was about to conclude the Violence against Children Study, which has identified factors such as alcohol and drug abuse, senseless and inexcusable anger and frustration by adults, which they take out on the most vulnerable and defenceless members of society.
“In the meantime, we have been and are intensifying awareness campaigns that we are coordinating with partners such as the National Religious Leaders’ Council, traditional leaders, sporting fraternity and other government departments to sensitise our society to these acts.
“On the 25th of every month, we are running with the Orange Day - UNiTE to End Violence against Children campaign throughout the year to raise more awareness in our communities,” said a disturbed Xingwana.
Xingwana, who commended the police response to resolving these crimes, called on communities to help prevent these incidents by reporting to the police and social workers children who are seen wondering the streets alone, unattended and neglected or with unknown persons.
She noted that some of these crimes occurred during the day when parents were at work.
“I urge our communities to protect our children and violence is not a way or an option. I appeal for calm and let’s allow the police to do their work. We also appeal to our communities to assist the police with information as these crimes happen in our communities and therefore someone must have heard or seen something,” said Xingwana.
Also expressing shock at the murders, Ekurhuleni mayor Mondli Gungubele said while investigators were still trying to uncover the truth about the Ekurhuleni incident, such barbaric acts against the most vulnerable and defenceless in society could not continue unchallenged.
“This clearly goes against the principles of the freedom we fought for. The country needs to intensify its campaign against the abuse of women and children,” said Gungubele.
Meanwhile, the Police Local Record Criminal Centre, Photo Image Identification Unit, has released an ID Kit of the suspected Diepsloot murderer. Police are offering a reward of up to R100 000 for any information that could lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of the suspect.
Gauteng provincial spokesperson Lt Col Lungelo Dlamini said the suspect is in his early 30s (not older than 34 years), of slight build, 1.7m tall, light in complexion and was wearing a wool hat.
“It is believed that he has different colour wool hats. He has a cut on the lower lip and a red ring on his left hand. He is believed to be either from KwaZulu-Natal or Swaziland,” said Dlamini. – SAnews.gov.za
