Meet the 59 candidates for the Western Cape Children's Commissioner


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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