President Zuma dismayed by extreme abuse and murder of children

15 October 2013

President Jacob Zuma has expressed shock and dismay at the murder of two children; cousins aged two and three, whose bodies were found in a public toilet in the Diepsloot township north of Johannesburg. In another reported incident, a body of an estimated four-six years old boy was found in a field in Katlehong on the East Rand, with evidence of torture and abuse before he met his cruel death.

"These gruesome incidents of extreme torture and murder of our children do not belong to the society that we are continuously striving to build together.

We condemn these murders in the strongest possible terms. Whilst we appeal to the communities not to take the matters into their hands, we also want to urge them to work with law enforcement authorities to find the perpetrators and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law," said President Zuma.

President Zuma also conveyed, on behalf of government and the nation, deepest condolences to the families and the communities. "May the children's souls rest in peace," said the President.

Statement issued by Mac Maharaj, The Presidency, October 15 2013

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