As a two-year-old remains in hospital with a bullet lodged in his neck after being shot in Kensington in the Western Cape on Saturday (July 4), the case has once again highlighted the devastating impact of violence on children in the province.  

In March, two teenagers were killed and a 12-year-old girl was wounded in Elsies River. A month later, a 13-year-old boy was shot in the head in Voorbrug in Delft, Cape Town. Both incidents were suspected to be gang-related.  

Sergeant Wesley Twigg, the spokesperson for the provincial police, says the recent shooting occurred at 22:10.

Community shaken

Twigg says that, according to reports, the boy and his mother were walking on Glider Crescent when unknown suspects on a motorcycle allegedly opened fire before fleeing the scene. 

“When police arrived, they found a two-year-old boy who sustained gunshot wounds to his body. The victim was transported to a medical facility for treatment.” 

He adds that the motive for the attack is unknown and detectives are investigating a case of attempted murder. 

Cheslyn Daniels, the ward councillor for the area, says the child was being carried by his mother when the incident occurred. 

“He was shot in the neck and on the shoulder. A bullet is still lodged in his neck, but he is stable at the moment.” 

Local parks empty 

Daniels adds that the shooting has left the community shaken. 

“It is the school holidays, and no children are playing outside or at our local park. Parents are afraid to let their children go outside.” 

He describes gang violence in the province as ‘severe and intense’. 

Daniels believes government is not taking gang violence seriously and that not enough resources are being allocated to combat the problem. 

“The gang violence needs to be declared a state of emergency and the government needs to review its strategy to fight it. We need each police station in our communities to have its own anti-gang unit because gangsters have their own plans in place, which they execute with military precision.” 

Desensitised 

Steve Ross, a community activist and founder of the non-profit organisation Inspire Alliance, says the effects of gang violence on children extend far beyond the physical danger of shootings. 

“Many children have grown up surrounded by gun violence to the point where it has become normal to them. They are becoming desensitised to the sound of gunfire and the violence unfolding around them. At the same time, children as young as 14 are being recruited into gangs and groomed into a life of crime.” 

Ross says many children require trauma counselling after being exposed to violent incidents, whether by hearing gunfire or witnessing the aftermath of a shooting. 

“The impact is enormous because gang violence dominates the conversation in our communities. Too often, the achievements of our children go unnoticed. Through our organisation, we are not trying to ignore the violence, but rather show young people that there is more to life, more to talk about and greater things to aspire to,” he adds.  

Exposure to violence 

Sarah Roberts, a commissioner in the office of the Western Cape Commissioner for Children, describes the gang violence as a ‘dire situation’. 
 
“The recent statistics on child murders paint a sobering picture. These numbers are overwhelming, particularly when we remember that each statistic represents a young life.  
 
 “The alarming trend manifests across all spheres of the children’s lives, including their homes, schools and communities. It is also explicitly highlighted and articulated by children themselves at community child rights workshops and, regrettably, continues unabated, tragically disrupting countless childhoods.” 

Undermines growth 

 
Roberts says the persistent exposure to such violence undermines the fundamental right of every child to a safe and nurturing environment conducive to their growth and development. 
 
She explains that these challenges demand co-ordinated, child-centred responses that place children’s voices and experiences at the centre of policymaking and service delivery.  
 
“The Children’s Commissioner does not have an oversight authority over the security cluster, nor is the institution a frontline service provider for directly addressing violence against children. However, the office is building relationships with departments that are mandated to ensure safety and frontline services.” 
 
Roberts adds that society has a responsibility to protect children and speak out when children are in need.  
 
“In a proactive effort to amplify the voices of children and address their concerns directly, the Children’s Commissioner actively explores community-based platforms across various municipalities in the province.” 

Accountable systems  

She adds the office is strengthening engagements with government departments, municipalities, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations and community stakeholders to advocate for more responsive and accountable systems of protection for children. 
 
“Through ongoing oversight visits, community dialogues, research initiatives and child participation platforms, the office continues to monitor the extent to which children’s constitutional rights are being realised and protected across the Western Cape.” 
 
She says the office is engaging with communities in Ceres, Lavender Hill, Kuilsriver, Vredendal and Saldanha Bay to better understand local child protection challenges and support reform efforts. 
 
In addition, the office participates in the provincial joint priority committee on school safety, which identifies high-risk schools, especially in gang-affected areas.  
 
Roberts explains that this initiative helps to pinpoint where children are most vulnerable, both in and around school environments. 

“In our eagerness to protect children, we must remember to include their voices in the conversation. Instead of designing protection services solely for children, we should engage with them directly and ask what makes them feel safe. Ultimately, before children can experience safety, they must first feel it,” she adds.  

Twigg urges anyone with information on the shooting to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile app MySAPS anonymously. 

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