Child killers will not go unpunished

President Jacob Zuma says there is no justification for the spate of child killings in the country, and such acts cannot go unpunished.

Addressing the Youth Leadership Summit hosted by the Youth Managers Foundation in Midrand in Gauteng on Wednesday, Zuma said he has directed law enforcement agencies to do everything in their power to find the culprits of the recent killings.

The President was referring to the murder of two cousins aged two and three, who were found in a public toilet in Diepsloot township, north of Johannesburg, on Tuesday. In another incident, two children were brutally assaulted and killed in a horrific manner in Kathlehong.

“We urge the communities to contain their anger and exercise restraint. Such matters must be left to the police to handle. They will find the culprits.”

President Zuma also called on parents to exercise vigilance at all times and ensure that children are safe at all times.

“This reminds us that we need to re-inculcate the time-honoured value that every child is my child …we must work together to protect our children.”

The murders have sent shockwaves throughout the country, with residents venting their anger by taking to the streets in protests.

On Thursday, police released an Identikit of the suspected Diepsloot murderer.

The suspect is in his early 30s (not older than 34 years), of slight build, 1.7m tall, light in complexion and was wearing a woollen hat.

It is believed that he has different colour woollen hats. He has a cut on the lower lip and a red ring on his left hand. He is believed to be either from KwaZulu-Natal or Swaziland.

Police are offering a reward of up to R100 000 for any information that could lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of the suspect. – SAnews.gov.za