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[19 July 2007] - South Africa's Western Cape Government has pledged to stem child killings in the province. It says parents will be held to account, while the Justice Department has been asked to close loopholes allowing murder suspects back on the streets. Strict regulations for shebeens (illegal bars/clubs selling unlicenced alcohol) will be applied by next month. NGOs will be asked to help with social work and the province's community safety department will scale up a child safety awareness campaign. After a provincial executive committee meeting this week, Premier Ebrahim Rasool said: "It is an emotional issue and difficult - week after week - to convey condolences to families of children brutalised. There is an expectation for government to do something." He said Provincial Police Commissioner Mzwandile Petros had been asked to explain child murder trends over the last financial year. Rasool said there were 105 murders, 13 in rural areas. He said child killings were attributed to gang activity in 47 of the 77 murder dockets Petros examined. The information also showed that only 12 children were murdered by strangers. He said that in the 77 murder cases studied, there were arrests in half of them; 36 were committed with guns and 29 with knives. Alcohol or drugs featured in most. 'Right path' "What was heartening about the information is that most murders happened in 15 areas we identified for special intervention. This showed we are on the right path." Social Development MEC Koleka Mqulwana said a task team, including NGOs and community groups, would be set up to tackle child safety issues. "There is a lack of parenting. The struggle is how to handle the enemy which is inside the home. Government can't do it alone," she said. Mqulwana said Justice Minister Brigitte Mabandla would be approached to discuss the problem of repeat offenders who were released on bail. "Our communities are becoming impatient," she said. Said Rasool: "We need a crackdown on parents and in court cases coming up, we need to ask what was the role of parents. We'll do so until such time parents fear to neglect their children." Action against 'neglect' Community Safety MEC Leonard Ramatlakane said: "There will be more action against parents neglecting their children. Police stations are instructed to act immediately when a child is reported missing. "There is presently a reactive approach to this type of crime, but this could change with NGOs and communities raising awareness." He said regulations, to be implemented soon, would see thousands of shebeens closed down and that those allowed to operate would do so under strict conditions. Further information
pdf: http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn2007071...