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The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape is calling on South African Police Service to use all available resources in the search for the Delportshoop toddler who went missing over the weekend.

It is believed that the child was snatched by a man who first tried to rape the toddler’s mother. It was further reported that the toddler’s pants were found along the Vaal River and that the family are already preparing themselves for the worst. They are also demanding that the suspect, who is in police custody, points them to the whereabouts of the missing toddler.

The DA is praying for the safety of the missing toddler. Our activists and councillors in the area have also availed themselves to assist in the ongoing search party action taking place in Delporthshoop.

This latest incident once again shines the spotlight on the unacceptably high rate of violence against women and especially children in the South Africa and the Northern Cape.

Last year, a parliamentary reply revealed that of the 124 526 rape cases reported across South Africa in the last three financial years, children were the victims of shocking 41% of these cases. At the same time, more than 2 600 children were murdered, which constitutes 5% of all reported murders. In effect, the statistics mean that at least 46 children are raped every day and at least 2 children are murdered every single day in South Africa.

We cannot tolerate such high levels of violence against our children.

The DA has consistently called for the professionalisation of the police service by improving training and capacity of police officers to carry out their duties effectively. The failure to heed our call means that after 25-years under the failing and uncaring ANC government, communities are still left vulnerable to crime because of an ineffective policing system.

Worryingly, the crises within the SAPS does not bode well for addressing this scourge.  Without the political will, the police will to continue to fail in their mandate to ensure the reduction of the country’s unacceptably high levels of crime.

Only a DA-led government will ensure that all communities have quick access to policing services and well-resourced detective services, to ensure people are protected by a well-skilled and vigilant police service and that those who harm our women and children, are speedily brought to book.

Issued by The DA