All 59 candidates that have been shortlisted for the Western Cape
Commissioner for Children have officially been released for the public to
comment on.
There have been rising requests for a children's commissioner over
recent years given the high number of children deaths within the
province. In August, statistics released by the provincial government made
for a horrific reading with the news that 989 children were murdered in the
last five years. The number equals nearly four children being murdered in the
province every week.
According to an analysis of child murders in the province presented by
the Department of Social Development, between April 1, 2013 and March 31 last
year, more than 781 children between the ages of 13 and 17 were killed, as were
76 between the ages of six and 12 and 128 between the ages of 0 and five. Earlier
this year, the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital revealed that
over the past 25 years the hospital has seen an increase in the numbers and
severity of child abuse and neglect cases at the facility. During the first
five months of 2019 alone, over 270 children seen at the hospital have been
victims of child abuse, neglect or violence against children
From today the public can give their opinion on the candidates for
commissioner who will have the power to monitor, investigate, research,
educate, lobby as well as advice and report on matters relating to children in
the province.
Objections can be emailed to njamce@wcpp.gov.za or: delivered
to N Jamce, The Secretary - Western Cape Provincial Parliament, 4th Floor,
Provincial Legislature Building, 7 Wale Street, Cape Town, 8001.
By: Ellouise Muller
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