OPINION: Premier needs to take stronger stand against child rape and murder

While many have become desensitised to crime as a result of never-ending horror stories, it never gets any easier to hear about the rape and murder of a young girl. The latest incident in our province involves a seven-year old girl whose life was brutally taken in the Umzumbe Local Municipality.

The rape and murder of young girls in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has climbed to unimaginable heights. This speaks to the trauma and mental illness that exists within society which requires urgent mobilisation in order to be dealt with.

While the DA commends the swift actions of both the province’s Department of Social Development (DSD) and SAPS in response to this latest horrific incident, there are still far too many crimes that remain unsolved, leaving perpetrators to lurk within our communities.

This scourge can no longer be placed on the back-burner by this ANC-run government. Nor can government continue to adopt a reactive rather than a proactive stance when it comes to the safety of our most vulnerable citizens.

KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube will deliver the annual State of the Province (SOPA) to the people of our province. During last year’s address, the former Premier failed to fully engage with the multitude of issues plaguing social development. The question is: Will the new Premier take a stronger stand when it comes to the rape and murder of children?

The DA expects a far greater emphasis to be placed on eradicating this scourge and the resultant trauma that the people of KZN are experiencing as a result of ongoing serious crime. Only time will tell whether she and her ANC executive care enough to finally act.

MMABATHO TEMBE, MPL
DA KZN Spokesperson on Social Development

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