Save the Children South Africa (SCSA) is saddened by the gruesome discovery of the body of eight-year-old Tazne van Wyk, in a storm water pipe outside Worcester. Tazne went missing in Elsies River, almost two weeks ago. We send our heartfelt condolences to her family.

“We welcome the swift action by the police in making an arrest in this case and call on the police to conduct a thorough investigation, that will result in conviction and sentencing,” says Duduzile Skhosana, SCSA’s Child Protection Programme Manager.

We are also horrified by reports of the killing of four children, allegedly by their father in Limpopo. This comes at the back of two similar cases which took place in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga.

It is unacceptable that children continue to die at the hands of those who are supposed to protect them. Recent crime stats show that child murder increased by 2,9% from 985 in 2017/2018 to 1014 in the 2018/2019 financial year, while rape increased by 1,4% within the same period.

We call on law enforcement agencies to ensure that the perpetrators of such violence against children are put behind bars.

SCSA urges government to allocate more funding to prevention programmes, like psychosocial support for parents. This will help prevent some of the violence against children.

ENDS

For more information or to set up interviews contact: Sibusiso Khasa on 073 449 6871/ 0609879810 or [email protected] 

About: Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In South Africa and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

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