South Africans must become more vocal over violence against children - Cameron

CAPE TOWN - Chairperson of the police portfolio committee, Ian Cameron, said it’s critical that South Africans become more outspoken regarding violence against children. 

More than two years after Jerobejin van Wyk's murder shocked the sleepy West Coast town of Klawer, the 13-year-old's family is expected to finally see justice.

Judgment is expected in the case against Daniel Smit, who last week pleaded guilty to all five charges against him, including murder, kidnapping and violating a corpse.

The teenager was killed in February 2022 after he and a friend were accused of stealing fruit from the 58-year-old's property.

Smit admitted he became involved with a Chinese occult group at the age of 13, and killed Jerobejin by breaking his neck in one swift movement, as he was taught by this group. 

Cameron said this matter presented the courts with an opportunity to set an example that murder and taking the law into one’s own hands could not be tolerated.

"It bothers me that someone like this could have had access to these children and likely to many other children for so long. Someone, somewhere had to have known about his background. What he did wasn't just a normal crime, the cruelty in this is just absolutely horrific."

The Ubuntu Rural Women and Youth Movement’s Wendy Pekeur has been supporting Jerobejin’s family since the murder in February 2022. 

"We are sad that it took so long to come to this point but we're also very grateful there's a guilty plea by the perpetrator and that this case comes to a close."