The mayor of Kokstad, Lwanda Madikizela, has emphasized the need for collective responsibility in ensuring child safety in the area. This call comes amid growing concerns over missing and murdered children in Kokstad. Madikizela was speaking at an ANC Kokstad Sub-Region volunteer campaign at the Youth Centre in Bhongweni township. He stressed that government alone cannot carry the responsibility for child safety when some parents are not aware of their children's whereabouts or activities.
Madikizela rejected what he described as the politicization of child disappearances. He stated that incidents involving children are being used to attack him and the municipality. According to Madikizela, the disappearance of children is a collective issue, not just a mayoral issue. He expressed distress over the negligence of some parents who are not supervising their children adequately. Madikizela cited instances where parents are unaware of where their children are playing, who they are with, or when they are expected to return home.
The municipality will intensify its community outreach program to establish whether parents know where their children are and who they are with. This initiative will involve going from house to house in areas affected by crime. Madikizela's comments come amid growing concerns about crime and public safety in Kokstad. Recent cases of missing children have heightened these concerns. Residents have also alleged that some criminals from surrounding areas have moved into Kokstad.
Madikizela stated that the municipality cannot address crime on its own and is working with law-enforcement agencies, community organizations, private security companies, and businesses. A Security Cluster has been established, bringing together private security companies, community structures, and business stakeholders to work with the police. The initiative will focus on crimes affecting children and other vulnerable members of the community.
KwaZulu-Natal police have clarified that the R50 000 reward issued in connection with the death of seven-year-old Lathitha Mtolo is not the result of an administrative error. The reward was issued after forensic testing confirmed that a skull recovered from a river belonged to Lathitha. However, police have confirmed that there are two separate R50 000 rewards relating to the cases of missing children Banele Mshubi and Lathitha.
Police have intensified their presence in Kokstad's townships and central business district following mounting public anger and threats to shut down the town. Three women have been killed in Kokstad in the past two weeks, deepening concerns about violence and public safety. Madikizela has called on parents, communities, police, government, private security companies, and businesses to work together to improve safety in the town.
Madikizela emphasized that child safety should be treated as a shared responsibility and should not become a tool for political point-scoring. He warned that spreading unverified information about women allegedly being murdered could cause unnecessary panic and damage Kokstad's reputation. The mayor's call for collective responsibility aims to address the rising concerns over child safety and public security in Kokstad.
Key points
- The mayor of Kokstad, Lwanda Madikizela, urges collective responsibility in addressing child safety concerns amid rising crime and public safety issues in the area.
- Madikizela rejects politicization of child disappearances, emphasizing that it is a collective issue, not just a mayoral issue.
- The municipality will intensify its community outreach program to establish whether parents know where their children are and who they are with.
