39 children murdered in the Western Cape since January

2-minute read
21 July 2023 | 16:05 CAT

Image: Cape Town ETC

Thirty-nine children have been murdered in the Western Cape in just seven short months. In the latest incident, 9-year-old Tiano Anthony died after a bullet hit him in the head. It is believed the bullet was fired when a known gangster cleaned his firearm in Manenberg.

The Western Cape MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Reagen Allen, recently cited quarterly crime statistics.

Allen said during the corresponding period in 2022, 19 children were killed.

“Any child that is murdered concerns me deeply. It is unacceptable and has to stop. There is no way that we can justify child killings in any way,’ he says, adding that 19 children were murdered during the same reporting period last year.” said Allen.

According to the MEC, the crime statistics also revealed that 382 murders were recorded this year using a firearm.

The latest child murder has raised concerns about gangsters openly handling their weapons in public.

According to News24, the latest child murder prompted concerns about gangsters who handle their weapons in public. Adele Kirsten, Gun Free SA director, says the legislation is clear: when a person obtains a competency certificate for gun ownership, that competency needs to be determined.

Meanwhile, the MEC highlighted that gang violence ranks extremely high as a motive for murders and child-related murders within the province.

“In most scenarios it is stray bullets that hit children which ultimately eminate from drug turf wars and also gang fighting,” added the MEC.

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie.

2026 HPV Vaccination Campaign Kicks Off Nationwide

Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za 3-minute read 03 February 2026 South Africa’s 2026 HPV vaccination drive officially kicked off today, targeting girls aged nine and older in an effort to curb cervical cancer one of the country’s deadliest yet most preventable...

MSF warns South Sudan flight restrictions could cost lives in Jonglei State

Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za 3-minute read 02 February 2026 Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has issued a strong warning that government restrictions on humanitarian access in South Sudan could cost lives, as nearly 400,000 people in opposition-held parts of...

Johannesburg water crisis deepens as experts warn of worsening outages and rising public distrust

Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za 3-minute read 02 February 2026 Johannesburg’s water crisis is showing no signs of easing, with experts warning that without urgent intervention, the city could be headed toward a permanent supply emergency. The warning comes...

Drowning In Debt

Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za 05 February 2026 2-minute read A decade of rising living costs, payday loans, and online gambling have seen South Africans using 71% of their salary towards debt payment. Executive head of Debt Busters, Benay Sager, says that...

Real Power Dynamics

Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za 03 February 2026 2-minute read As registration deadlines loom for homeowners to register rooftop solar and battery systems, anxiety around the electricity issue mounts. Prof Vally Padayachee confirms that the media statement...

Simply A Matter Of Following The Process

Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za 29 January 2026 2-minute read Following the horrific accident of 14 children who lost their lives when travelling in a scholar transport taxi, several provinces have swooped in to assess scholar transport vehicles, hundreds of...