Stellenbosch police have arrested a suspect in the death of a 6-year-old boy found dead at his aunt’s home in Jamestown.
Community members were up in arms after the boy was found on Friday 3 May at 21:00. According to Captain Nathalie Martin, spokesperson for the local police, the cause of death was unknown and the investigation was still underway.
There are reports the boy was found beaten black and blue.
“After intense investigation by Stellenbosch detectives a 57-year-old female was arrested for murder in this incident, on Monday 20 May about 11:18, and will appear in the Stellenbosch Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 22 May,” Martin told Eikestadnuus.
The boy’s mother apparently sent him to her sister in Stellenbosch because she didn’t find school placement in Khayelitsha, where she resides.
In May, Child Protection Month, children’s rights take centre stage.
Earlier this month Provincial Minister of Social Development Sharna Fernandez, highlighted the protection of vulnerable children as a primary focus every day of the year. “The safety of children is a whole-of-society and whole-of-government responsibility, especially when parents or guardians fail in their duties and responsibilities.
“Within the Western Cape Government various departments have programmes in place aimed at the well-being and safety of children. The Department of Social Development also has a range of community-based prevention and early intervention services, child abuse prevention programmes, therapeutic counselling and developmental services to support both the child and parent or guardian.”
These include family-preservation services and prevention and early-intervention services.
Netwerk24 reported that the victim’s aunt’s son (12) has since been removed from her custody.
