Cape Town - Police believe some children killed in the second quarter of 2024/25 were recruited by gangs.
Police commissioner in the Western Cape, Thembisile Patekile, said this as the province released its crime statistics yesterday, on the back of the national statistics on Monday.
Of 1063 murders in the Western Cape, 96 were children and 70% were aged 15 to 17. Gang-related cases were 177 while arguments, misunderstandings, road rage and provocation related murders were 228.
“The national release of the crime statistics in Gauteng also comes at a crucial time in the country’s calendar of events as the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence just commenced,” Patekile said.
Speaking about the children who were murdered, he said SAPS was concerned. “Two things: many children have been recruited into gangs and that is worrying.
“Children who are supposed to be in school are recruited into gangs.
“The problem is that the age of the gang members who are participating is under 18. They then become victims and perpetrators.
“Our focus should be on partnerships between ourselves and parents. We should redirect the efforts of the young ones into something meaningful in the communities rather than being gang members.
“What comes to mind is the recent article of a grade 3 learner who was asked what he wants to be when he grows up and he said he wants to be a gangster. That is not the normal society we want to create. The school dropouts are a problem and are recruited.”
Provincial Community Policing Forum (CPF) Board chairperson, Francina Lukas, said they were grateful to the countless volunteers who assisted in the reduction of murders.
“It is through the collaborative efforts that we can see the reduction.
“We want to appeal to SAPS to record more reductions during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence and beyond.
“We are still very much concerned about the high incidents reported on women and children, gang violence bringing casualties to the children must be attended to.”
Community Safety MEC, Anroux Marais, said six stations where LEAP officers are deployed, recorded a drop in the murder rate.
“It is proof that the hard work of the LEAP officer, police, and City’s Metro officers have saved the lives of our people and will continue to do so.
“However, I remain concerned that the crime levels in the province are still high. Now is no time for complacency. We should redouble our efforts.”