The Minister for the department of Women, Children and People with disabilities, Lulu Xingwana is deeply disturbed and saddened by the recent cases of brutal murders, rapes, assaults and abuses committed against the country’s children. We commend the response of the Police to resolve these crimes.
The Department of Women, Children and People with disabilities is about to conclude the Violence against children study that has identified factors such as Alcohol and drug abuse , Senseless and inexcusable anger and frustrations by the adult members in our society taken out on the most vulnerable and defenceless members of our society and many more.
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 about these acts. On the 25th of every month, we are running with the Orange Day-UNiTE against violence of children campaign throughout the year to raise more awareness in our communities.
“As a society, parents, mothers and fathers we should be deeply concerned about these heinous crimes against children that are happening around us, in our communities. I therefore call on our communities to assist us in preventing these incidents by reporting to the police, social workers, children that are seen wondering the streets alone, unattended and neglected or with unknown persons.
Some of these crimes occur during the day when parents are away at workplaces and these criminals use that opportunity to harm children. I therefore urge our communities to protect our children and violence is not a way or an option. I appeal for calm and lets 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.” says Xingwana.
Minister Xingwana will visit the homes of the toddlers in both Diepsloot and Katlehong tomorrow, Thursday, 17 October 2013 at 11h30.
For further enquiries:
Phuti Mabelebele
Cell: 076 402 7521
Tel: 012 359 0222/0224
Emai: Phuti@dwcpd.gov.za
