Drugs 'behind crimes on kids'

2009-07-09 22:06

Johannesburg - Drug and alcohol abuse were "the most common factors" among people who committed crimes against children, Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya said on Thursday.

She was speaking at the start of a two-day consultative meeting in Benoni with the National Children's Rights Advisory Council.

Mayende-Sibiya said her department was compiling a report on people convicted of child murders, which she believed would help the department isolate factors contributing to these crimes.

"While we finalise this work, it is becoming apparent that the use of drugs and alcohol are the most common factors identified amongst people who have been convicted of these crimes [child murders]," she said.

"Therefore, government will be intensifying its response in dealing with the drug trade and use."

Restrictions on alcohol access

It would also intensify enforcement of restrictions on access to alcohol.

Her department would highlight the negative impact of alcohol abuse through means such as messages on the containers of alcoholic beverages.

Mayende-Sibiya said the re-establishment of the Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit within the SA Police Service would be a major step towards preventing and resolving these cases.

She said her department was also going to engage police and prosecutors to ensure people who committed crimes against children were not granted bail.

Involving parents

She also called on parents to be more involved in trying to prevent these crimes.

Most rapes and murders of children were committed by people known to the children and their families.

"Some of these children are abducted in broad daylight on their way to tuckshops or while playing in the neighbourhood.

"We therefore need a collective action by the community to prevent these incidents."
 

- SAPA