Police commissioner says a child is murdered every other day in Gauteng

JOHANNESBURG - A child is murdered every other day in Gauteng and provincial Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni said that it is a matter of grave concern for law enforcement.

According to the latest crime statistics for the province, which were presented at a sitting of the provincial legislature in Kempton Park on Tuesday, a total of 55 children were murdered in Gauteng between October and December 2023 - amounting to an average of one every 2 days.

This figure further represents a 25% increase as compared to the same period in 2022, during which 44 children were murdered in the province.

Mthombeni said, "Any crime which is reported we are worried and even the community they are worried but for that matter that its children is a serious concern."

The commissioner says even one murder is “too many”.

"We are concerned and we are putting more effort into ensuring we deal with these issues, by working closely with the community because these crimes are committed in the community."