Child murders soar in W Cape, stats show

AT LEAST 63 children have been murdered in the Western Cape in just five months. This was revealed during a police presentation to the Western Cape Legislature's standing committee on social development yesterday.

- BRANDON NEL

Major-General Luyanda Damoyi presented statistics covering the period from April 1 to August 31. Head of the Social Development Department, Dr Robert Macdonald, shared broader data spanning 2022 to 2024.

“During the period April 1 to August 31, a total of 63 children were murdered in the Western Cape,” Damoyi said.

“These are operational stats, so during auditing, they might change. It hasn't been released by the minister yet.”

He said children aged 15 to 17 accounted for 71% of the murders during the five months, while 11% were in the 11 - 14 age group.

Eleven percent were aged 0 to 5, and 6% were aged 6 to 10. The worst-affected areas, according to Damoyi, included Kraaifontein, Philippi East, Delft, Nyanga, and Mfuleni, along with Samora Machel, Elsies River, Bishop Lavis, Ravensmead, and Gugulethu.