We're failing our children - again and again.
In the past couple of weeks, the Daily Voice has reported on some tragic and horrific stories in which defenceless little ones have suffered and lost their lives in the cruellest way.
There was the story coming out of Elim where the body of six-year-old Delvina Europa was found in the bushes. A 35-year-old neighbour has been charged for the little girl’s rape and murder.
Then Muees Calvin, who was just two years old, was killed by a stray bullet in Hanover Park.
The toddler had been walking with his boeta at 9pm at night when they got caught in crossfire.
Four suspects have since been arrested for the shooting.
CROSSFIRE: Muees Calvin, 2, was shot in head
In Delft, the mother of an eight-year-old boy who has been hit by a car TWICE in less than a year has been arrested for child negligence.
The mother of four is said to be a drug addict who leaves her children to wander the streets. This time, one of her boys went missing and was eventually found in hospital.
The story was shockingly similar to that of the mother who was arrested after leaving her disabled 16-year-old daughter and eight-year-old son home alone to starve and live in their own waste.
The community found the two kids in the most sickening conditions in their hokkie in Leiden, while the mother was out for the day.
All these stories beg the question: Where were the parents? How could they allow this to happen?
HORRIFIC: Delvina Europa, 6, killed in bushes
Even in the case of poor one-year-old Neelen Rossouw. Somehow the toddler managed to wander out of his Roosendal house and into the street where a bakkie drove over him, killing him.
It was never the intention to leave the gate open for the child to go outside, to be sure. Mistakes do happen, but unfortunately, in this case, that mistake proved to be fatal.
It is our job as parents to keep our innocent, defenceless kids safe from harm. And we are failing in this duty.
But the child everyone was talking about this week was Orderick Lucas.
The boy, who was just 20 months old, was found dead in a drain, just metres from his Eerste River home, after being missing for over a week.
The circumstances of the case have raised so many questions.
To begin with, why did the child’s ouma give him to his mother - who is a known drug addict and was previously accused of abusing Orderick?
How could the mom, in turn, leave the tot with her friend and not check up on him?
The friend, who has since been arrested for kidnapping, claims he gave Orderick back to his mom.
Everyone claims they thought the kid was with one of the others.
The child was not seen for FOUR days before being reported missing to police.
Yet none of the mom, ouma or friend raised the alarm. How could no one have noticed?
FORSAKEN: No one noticed Orderick Lucas was missing
And finally, the toddler was found dead just a few metres from the grandmother’s house. How did the child die? And who hid him in that drain?
The truth will be revealed in time. Keep reading the Daily Voice.
But back to the problem at hand. So many young lives are being lost because of parents’ neglect.
If you know of a child in need of help, report it. Call the Department of Social Development on 0800 220 250.