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The Citizen
06-06-2025
- The Citizen
A VIEW OF THE WEEK: We need a ceasefire in the war on children
You were once a child, but must now be a responsible adult. The theme for this year's Child Protection Week is 'working together in ending violence against children', but South Africa only came together in outrage. Child Protection Week started on 29 May and ended on Thursday, but it felt like it never really started. The intended focus on children's rights, safety, and community involvement was all overshadowed by mourning. As soon as the week began, police announced the gruesome discovery of the body of a child suspected to be that of two-year-old Kutlwano Shalaba, who went missing last November. The toddler's mother and a sangoma have both been arrested in connection with the death and face charges of murder and human trafficking. A few days later, 14-year-old Likhona Fose's mutilated body was found in an empty field in Roodeport, Gauteng. Police believe Fose was either targeted for her sexuality, making it a hate crime, or her body parts were mutilated for muthi purposes. Not far from that scene, just two days later, a young boy was shot, allegedly through the head and throat, in Westbury. The community claimed it took several hours for paramedics or police to attend to the incident. Children at risk These were just three incidents that grabbed the headlines in the seven days that Child Protection Week is commemorated. Nevermind other murders that may not have been reported, or the bullying, abuse and neglect that is a daily hell for children. Statistics show that around 1 288 children die in road accidents every year, more than 20 died of food-borne diseases in 2024, and around 140 children are known to be missing. Thousands go to school hungry each day, while thousands more do not even attend school. The problem is not only a rural one, with a recent General Household Survey finding that across SA's major urban metros, 578 000 households with children live on less than R2 500 a month. It also found that around 10% of children with special needs do not attend school, with more than 1 in 3 missing school in Mangaung and eThekwini. The government is assisting, with 54% of children attending school for free and 51% receiving social grants. ALSO READ: A VIEW OF THE WEEK: What were you doing at 11? Not setting fire to a school, I hope Who will protect our kids? While children's rights are enshrined in the constitution, they are too often ignored. If it takes a village to raise a child, it should be that village's responsibility to hold each other to account. There should never be abuse disguised as discipline or bullying masquerading as jokes. Children should never be neglected for convenience or left behind because they are scared to have a voice. School transport owners should not put profit before lives by cramming children on overcrowded and unroadworthy transport. It should not be that children should walk among crime hotspots to get to school, or find the school itself a hotbed of criminality. Parents, teachers, caregivers, community leaders, and children themselves should be taught the signs of abuse and recognise them when displayed. During Child Protection Week, and beyond, we must remember that we were all once children in need of help. We owe it to the rising generation to keep them safe and give them a chance in life we may have never got. NOW READ: A VIEW OF THE WEEK: It's a warzone and we are not prepared
The Herald
06-06-2025
- General
- The Herald
Sangoma implicated in toddler's murder makes U-turn on bail
The sangoma who was arrested in connection with the premeditated murder of two-year-old Kutlwano Shalaba has made an about-turn and wants to apply for bail. Sebokoana Khoanyana, 50, made a brief appearance on Thursday and his matter was postponed to June 25 for a formal bail application. Khoanyana appeared alongside Kutlwano's mother, Keneiwe Shalaba, 33, who is accused of lying about her son's disappearance in November 2024. Shalaba is also facing charges of premeditated murder. Khoanyana had initially requested that an attorney be made available so that he could plead guilty but was advised by the court that it was not the right time to plead. His lawyer, Gladmore Nyamande, said his client had a previous conviction of assault in 2019, which he believes was withdrawn. He was also convicted of possession of dagga but got a suspended sentence. Speaking to reporters shortly after the matter was postponed, Nyamande said: 'On his first appearance, he was not aware of his legal rights when he told the court that he wanted to plead guilty. 'According to his rights, the first thing he needs to do is to apply for bail and this matter will go further than the magistrate's court. We are not at the stage [of the trial] for him to plead guilty. He is flip-flopping; we don't know. When we come back, he might say he wants to abandon bail. 'On the day [of his first appearance] he just thought that by appearing and saying he wanted to plead, then the whole matter would be finished,' he said.
eNCA
05-06-2025
- eNCA
Two-year-old Kutlwano allegedly killed for being 'undesired' gender
JOHANNESBURG - A Lesotho-born sangoma appeared briefly in court on Thursday accused of helping a mother murder her two-year-old son. Sebokoana Khounyana, a 50-year-old Lesotho national, previously told the court he intends to plead guilty. But his defence team attributes the sangoma's courtroom outburst to his lack of legal support at the time. The sangoma reportedly led police to Kutlwano Shalaba's shallow grave. The child's mother is accused of selling him to the sangoma for R75 000. Prosecutors allege that Keneilwe Shalaba turned to the sangoma to kill her child because she was unhappy with the baby's gender. The case has rocked her Vanderbijlpark community. Khounyana is due back in court on the 25th of June, when his bail bid will be heard. He and Shalaba remain in custody until then.
Eyewitness News
05-06-2025
- Eyewitness News
Sangoma charged with premeditated murder of toddler has 2 previous convictions, court told
JOHANNESBURG - The Vanderbijlpark Magistrates Court has heard that a sangoma who is charged with human trafficking and the premeditated murder of a two-year-old has two previous convictions. Kutlwano Shalaba had been missing since November last year, when his body was recovered from a shallow grave in Bekkersdal last Friday. The toddler was allegedly sold for R75,000 by his mother to Sebokoane Khoanyana, with the funds deposited into the mother's account on the day of his disappearance. Khoayana is appearing in court on Thursday, with his co-accused, Keneilwe Shalaba, the mother of the murdered child. ALSO READ: Police probe premeditated murder case after toddler (2) was killed and his mother arrested Khoanyana was arrested last week, and he revealed that Kutlwano was buried in Bekkersdal, south of Gauteng. The sangoma was linked to the disappearance of the child following police investigations after it was found that the mother was involved in the disappearance of her child last year. On Thursday, Khoanyana told the court that he intended to apply for bail, which will be heard on 25 June 2025. His lawyer, Gladmore Nyamanda, has also told the court that the 50-year-old has previous cases of assault and possession of dagga from the Free State. Khoanyana's attorney adds that the assault case is from 2019. "I'm sure it was withdrawn, but for the sake of the court, we had to tell the court what happened, but also the possession of dagga, we had to tell the court as well." Nyamanda says the sentence for possession of dagga was a suspension of six months.
IOL News
05-06-2025
- IOL News
‘Stop this war against children': Child Protection Week highlights South Africa's failure to protect kids, says Numsa
Kutlwano Shalaba was murdered allegedly by her mother and a sangoma. Image: Facebook The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) has added its voice to the growing calls speaking against several recent reports of violence against children. Puleng Phaka, Numsa's second deputy president, said it is ironic that some of the most horrific reports on crimes against children are emerging during Child Protection Week which is running from 29 May to 5 June. 'Just this week, we have been exposed to a number of terrible media reports about the kidnapping and murder of children. Numsa wishes to send its deepest condolences to the families of these children who have joined the ranks of millions of other victims of violence in South Africa,' said Phaka. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the families whose lives have been devastated by the loss of their children.' Earlier this week, IOL reported that a 50-year-old sangoma, Sebokoana Khounyana, appeared before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court in Gauteng facing charges of premeditated murder and human trafficking of two-year-old baby, Kutlwano Shalaba. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Gauteng said a charge of premeditated murder was also added against the baby's mother Kuneuwe Portia Shalaba. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading The 32-year-old mother was previously facing charges of human trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery and making a false statement to the police. On Wednesday morning, IOL reported that the specialised occult unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS) has been roped in to probe the brutal murder of Roodepoort teenager Likhona Fose, whose mutilated body was discovered on Sunday. The 14-year-old Grade 8 learner at Ikusasalethu Secondary School in Braamfischerville, Joburg apparently lived with her grandmother, who could not find her on Saturday. Her butchered body was found in an open field, covered with vegetation around Durban Deep, in Roodepoort, Gauteng. In another incident, Kelly Smith, the mother of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, her boyfriend Jacquen "Boeta" Appollis, and their friend Steveno van Rhyn, were sentenced to life in prison on charges of kidnapping and human trafficking for the disappearance of little Joshlin. IOL reported that the trio was convicted in connection with her disappearance. MISSING: Joshlin Smith Image: Supplied 'We could go on and on listing the terrible stories which reflect the brutal, violent attacks on our children. It makes one question the relevance of 'Child Protection Week', if we are not going to do what is necessary to protect our children,' said Phaka. 'Statistics reflect a shocking record. In the second quarter of 2024, 315 children were killed and this is an increase of 7.5 percent compared to the same period, the year before. This means that violence against children is increasing and worsening.' Phaka said it is apparent that South Africa, as a society, is failing in its primary duty, which is to protect its children. 'Our children are not safe anywhere, they are not even safe in their own homes. This brutal reality is not isolated, it is the direct result of a system that places profit before people. Under capitalism, inequality thrives, communities are neglected, and the most vulnerable, our children, pay the highest price,' she said. 'A society driven by greed, exploitation, and economic exclusion creates desperate conditions where violence festers. The commodification of human life, the normalization of suffering, and the abandonment of social responsibility are the signs of capitalist decay.' Among other recommendations, Numsa suggests tackling poverty, unemployment and inequality directly, creation of early intervention programs where more social workers are employed to work with communities and provide parental support services, organisation of parental support groups in communities with social workers who are trained to help and advise parents with their children. 'Encourage the community to play an active role in reporting abuse so that intervention with social workers and the police can occur. Have more specialized units within the police services to protect children and investigate child-related crimes,' said Phaka. In the case of Likhona Fose, Deputy Minister of Police Dr Polly Boshielo has recently confirmed that the genitalia of a young girl were removed by her killers. As crime experts suggest the possibility of an occult-related murder in the case of Likhona, IOL on Wednesday spoke to Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva, chairperson of the Commission for the Promotion of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission), at her offices in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. 'The issue of Child Protection Week is very critical in a country like ours. Our children are not safe— even in their homes, they are not safe. Even in their communities, they are not safe. We are one of those countries which are not fit for children,' she said. 'We are a country that, if we had choices, we wouldn't have children in this country. We are a country that does not pay as much attention as it should, where children are concerned.' 'On basic things like access to education, some children still walk long distances when the transport system fails. Some schools still do not have toilets. So, even before we get to the alarmingly high levels of child abuse in this country, there are already many things that need urgent attention,' said Mkhwanazi-Xaluva. She said Child Protection Week was an opportunity for South Africans to reflect on their individual contributions to creating safer environments for children. 'As the CRL Rights Commission, we asked: How can we use the Children's Act to protect children? How do we ensure that the Act is implemented? It's an established law that can protect children. We are looking at spaces of worship and sacred spaces,' she told IOL. 'The law says anyone working with children must be vetted — not just teachers.' IOL News
