The distressing statistics revealed by Commissioner of Police Dinah Marathe, which are captured elsewhere in this publication, should serve as an alarm for our nation.
The rise in defilement and missing persons cases, particularly over the recent festive period, points not merely to a failure of policing, but to a profound and widespread societal crisis. Whilst the Police chief’s plea is rightly directed at parents, the root of this emergency runs deeper, demanding a collective response from every corner of our community. Marathe’s observations paint a picture of neglect with children left alone for extended periods, some roaming the streets unsupervised, while others frequenting bars, and returning to school pregnant. These are not signs of individual parenting lapses alone.
They are symptoms of a broader environment where the protection of the young has been dangerously deprioritised.
Further, the dereliction of duty in protecting the young and vulnerable has provided predators with a safety net to roam undetected, whether in the light or the shadows.
The connection drawn amongst these circumstances and falling school performance creates a devastating cycle, robbing children of their safety, their education, and their future.
It is especially frustrating that these trends persist despite tougher laws. The introduction of a minimum 20-year sentence for defilement in 2023 was a clear and necessary statement.
Yet, as the Commissioner notes, the message is "falling on deaf ears". This starkly reveals that legislation, however severe, cannot alone rebuild the moral and supervisory frameworks that have eroded. Perpetrators, often known to the victims, act with a brazen disregard that mock both the law and communal values.
However, this is not a moment for despair, but for determined and unified action. The Police cannot be the sole guardians of our children. The Commissioner’s call for collective responsibility is the crucial takeaway.
Parents and guardians must indeed heed the plea to take their primary role more seriously, supervising, guiding, and engaging with their children. But communities must also step up.
Neighbours, extended family, teachers, and local leaders all have a part to play in watching out, speaking up, and creating a protective web around every child.
The Kgotla meetings must continue, but their message must evolve from mere warning to mobilisation. We need a national conversation that moves beyond blame and towards concrete, localised support for families.
It is time to ask what pressures, economic, social, or otherwise, are leaving children vulnerable, and address them together.
Let us answer Commissioner Marathe’s call not just with remorse, but with a renewed, active commitment to shield our youngest and most vulnerable from harm. Their safety must become our non-negotiable priority.
