Johannesburg - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged communities to 'speak out' about crimes against children, SABC news reported on Saturday.
Ramaphosa made these comments during an address he gave in Soshanguve at the funeral of nine-year-old Veronica Mofokeng, whose body was found in a shallow grave last month. She had been raped, mutilated and burnt to death.
“Veronica's rights have been violated, we must speak out.” Ramaphosa was quoted as saying by the news station.
“I know that as a community you are in pain, and I can say (that) I who has become a part of this community... I feel your pain, I can see your pain, I am also part of that pain.”
Also in attendance at the funeral was Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi who told mourners he had already attended the funeral of six school children since taking office.
“Exactly two hours ago, I was burying another child, a Grade Four child who that was stabbed to death inside a classroom by another learner.
“Two weeks ago I was part of a very painful process of burying three children that ate something that even now we can't explain. It is indeed a difficult and a painful process,” SABC news reported him as saying. - Sapa