An ex-convict, who was released from prison last year, is believed to have murdered his neighbor's seven-year-old son, Linathi Sfundo Mkhize. The 43-year-old suspect was found with stab wounds in the man's shack. Police launched a manhunt, but instead of alerting the police, the community beat him to death. The child's family is jubilant at the news of the suspect's death and believes that justice has been served. Linathi's uncle, Sibongakonke, expressed gratitude to the community for their actions and hopes that they will finally lay their son in peace knowing that the suspect has received what they say he deserves. The community fought for the family, and while the death of the suspect is sad, the community fought for them. The family wishes that the suspect would rot in jail for brutally killing their son, but what has happened to him is more than enough. Detectives are now investigating another murder, and it is only a matter of time before the perpetrators are brought to book.
CHILDREN'S MURDER STATISTICS
South Africa continues to face a concerning issue of violence against children, with 285 children murdered and 2,707 surviving attempted murder, assault, or grievous bodily harm between October and December 2023. The latest quarterly South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics reveal that on average, thirty-three children are violently attacked daily, with at least three of them not surviving. Despite a nearly 11% decline in child murders compared to 2022, violent assaults have increased by almost 12%. In the last quarter of 2023, 1,135 women were murdered and over 20,300 were violently assaulted. The Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern over the high prevalence of all forms of violence against children, and UNICEF welcomed their call to strengthen efforts to tackle the root causes and eradicate violence against children.
