A child’s right to life is sacred

SEVERAL heartbreaking cases where children have been killed by relatives or caregivers, or have disappeared without trace, highlight deep societal issues and the urgent need for stronger child protection systems.

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A 32-year-old mother from Durban was sentenced to 20 years in prison for killing her 3-year-old daughter in a fit of rage.

A Pretoria couple received a combined 45-year sentence for the murder and abuse of their 1-year-old daughter. An autopsy revealed four broken ribs, bruises and bite marks, indicating prolonged abuse.

Joshlin Smith, a 6-year-old girl from the Western Cape, went missing, and was later revealed to have been kidnapped and sold by her mother and two accomplices.

An Eastern Cape mother left her 3-year-old child alone overnight to visit her boyfriend. Upon returning, she found the child dead and allegedly hid the body in a suitcase before travelling to a police station.