Child killings in the Western Cape

Chris Jones

doi:10.4102/hts.v75i1.5455

Abstract

In the light of requests from certain civil organisations in the Western Cape (WC) (South Africa) to the provincial government to establish a judicial commission of inquiry into child killings in this province because of the high incidence of killings, a research committee from three WC universities was put together to review existing research into this matter to determine a way forward. This committee looked at primary drivers of child murders in the WC, gaps in existing government services, the potential value of instigating a commission of inquiry or some other mechanism, and recommending a way forward. A summary of its findings was presented to, among others, the provincial cabinet that adopted all its recommendations. Reflection on these final findings and recommendations forms the first part of the article. The second part focuses in more detail on the research data presented (and provided) by experts and practitioners who informed the research committee. Important aspects discussed here are child death reviews, age- and sex-specific rates of child homicides, sexual killings of children, the possible influence of unfortunate, traumatic childhood experiences in becoming a violent adult, physical violence against children (and women), children’s perception of their safety and risk factors for children specifically in the WC. The purpose of this article is to provide well-researched information to role-players and decision-makers regarding the lives of children to address the violence and its causes that so many children (and women) are exposed to. Although the focus is on the dire situation in the WC, the broader South African and international contexts will also be brought into play in the second part of the article in a way that will (hopefully) be helpful with regard to the crises and challenges the WC is struggling with in this respect.

Highlights

Certain civil society organisations requested the Premier (Helen Zille) of the Western Cape (WC) to establish a judicial commission of inquiry into child murders in the province because of the number of child killings in the last couple of years – 279 just during 2017 and 2018.1 This is the highest number of child murders reported in a South African province for the 2017 and 2018 reporting period
At a meeting of the WC Provincial Parliament’s Standing Committee on Petitions, he delivered a distilled summary of all the research information presented and submitted to him by the research committee. He had received the invitation to report to this parliamentary committee, which took place in April 2018, in response to a petition received by the Provincial Parliament from the Trauma Centre for Survivors of Violence and Torture2 located in Cape Town, 1.https://www.saps.gov.za/services/long_version_presentation_april_to_march_2017_2018.pdf
Important and relevant aspects discussed in this second part of the article are child death reviews, age- and sex-specific rates of child homicides, sexual killings of children, the possible influence of unfortunate, traumatic childhood experiences in becoming a violent adult, physical violence against children, children’s perception of their safety and risk factors for children in the WC

Summary

Introduction

Certain civil society organisations (which, like the Trauma Centre referred to below, support South Africa in becoming a non-violent society with respect for human rights) requested the Premier (Helen Zille) of the Western Cape (WC) to establish a judicial commission of inquiry into child murders in the province because of the number of child killings in the last couple of years – 279 just during 2017 and 2018.1 This is the highest number of child murders reported in a South African province for the 2017 and 2018 reporting period. Important and relevant aspects discussed in this second part of the article are child death reviews, age- and sex-specific rates of child homicides, sexual killings of children, the possible influence of unfortunate, traumatic childhood experiences in becoming a violent adult, physical violence against children (and women), children’s perception of their safety and risk factors for children in the WC. When considering the issue of child homicides, we need to focus on the broader issue of VAC, as indicated earlier In their research, they refer to the culture of violence in South Africa and that it is caused, among other factors, by poverty, unemployment, social inequality, cultural practices that do not respect the rights of children, decades of institutionalised social oppression and the fact that ‘vertical violence’ results in ‘horizontal violence’ (Savahl et al 2017:n.p.). Individual risks are age and gender (preschool), children with disabilities, exposure to unsuitable caregivers and potential perpetrators who know the child, risky behaviour and bad associations

Concluding remarks

Findings

Data availability statement