Minister Tolashe Calls On Police To Ensure Swift Arrest And Prosecution Of Child Rapist In Soweto

MEDIA STATEMENT

23 October, Pretoria-following the brutal rape and murder of a 6-year old girl in Orlando East, Soweto that was widely reported in the media and sparked national outrage, the Minister of Social Development, Ms Nokuzola Tolashe has called on police to ensure a speedy arrest and prosecution of the suspect who has reportedly disappeared.

"The brutal rape and murder of Amantle Samane has rightfully sparked national outrage and shame across South Africa. The death of one child is one too many. This is a damning indictment on the state of our nation and our collective failure to protect and nurture the most vulnerable in our society. We urge the police to spare no effort and to act with utmost urgency to arrest and ensure speedy prosecution of the alleged perpetrator of this heinous crime", said Minister Tolashe.

According to police, the 6-year old was playing with her peers when the suspect who is known in the area called her to his rented shack. Members of the public made the gruesome discovery after frantically searching for the child.

Sadly, the gruesome rape and murder of Amantle Samane highlights the dangers of violent crimes that many children face on a daily basis in communities throughout South Africa. The statistics on child killings are just as startling. According to the quarterly crime stats, 285 children were murdered, with 2,707 surviving attempted murder, assault, or grievous bodily harm between October and December 2023. For the first quarter of this year (January-March), police recorded 314 cases of child killings, which translate to 3 children being killed every single day in South Africa.

"The full magnitude of these statistics sinks in only if we put the figures into perspective. They tell one of the most shocking violent crimes against innocent and defenseless children in our country. For every child being killed in South Africa is a family and a community suffering unimaginable life-long trauma. As we honour the memory of little Amantle and many countless child victims of violent crimes in South Africa, I hope that our national outrage will fuel renewed and concrete national action to protect our children", added Minister Tolashe.

Through the adoption of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP on GBVF), South Africa has committed itself to a national goal of preventing and reducing violence against the most vulnerable.

Achieving this goal will be impossible unless South Africans from all walks of life support the 365 Days Child Protection Programme of Action to break the cycle of violence that negatively impact the lives of so many children. Community-based prevention and early intervention programmes such as RISIHA are important care and support system as they strengthen resilience in both children and caregivers.

The killing of Amantle Samane coincides with South Africa's hosting of the Sexual Violence Research Initiative Forum (SVRI Forum), a global gathering that brings together policy makers, researchers and survivors to share and learn new research and emerging issues on violence against women, children and other forms of violence driven by gender inequality in low and middle-income countries.

The SVRI Forum is currently underway at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 21-25 October and its outcomes will strengthen South Africa's ongoing measures on prevention of and response to violence against women and children.

ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

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