The significance of the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child,” is an accusation to (so-called) modern human-kind.
This proverb, meaning that an entire community of people must provide for and interact positively with children for them to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment, seems to be further and further away from the truth.
The brutal rape and murder (although rape and murder are always brutal) of the 11-year-old Relebogile Segami from Galeshewe, Kimberley, sent shock waves through the Northern Cape community and resulted in a flood of comments on social media.
According to a press release of the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) in February, the lives of 352 South African children were violently cut short between October and December 2021.
“That is nearly four children killed each day.
“Such shocking numbers of child murder have tragically become a norm in South African society.
“These statistics do not even tell the full story. Another 394 children survived attempted murder and 2 048 children were victims of physical assault.
“Each child must now recover from their physical injuries and cope with the mental trauma they suffered as a result,” the statement read.
It also emphasised that children should feel safe at home and in all public spaces.
“But it is in these places that most violence against children happens.
“Children cannot live their lives in fear, they have the right to be safe, cared for and nurtured at all times,” Unicef further stated.
In this country, where there really is space and opportunity for children to play outside and just be children, this rising figure of child murder is unbearable sad and cannot be tolerated.
In this modern age, the old proverb must become the norm again, and not just a saying.
