Kakamas - Messages of condolences and calls for children to be safely supervised by parents and guardians, were received from the Northern Cape provincial government and the official opposition on Wednesday following the tragic deaths of five children, all from the same family, in a chest freezer in Kakamas.
While Premier Sylvia Lucas and other political leaders agreed that the deaths of the five cousins, all between the ages of three and seven, had left an entire community in mourning, the incident also highlighted the need to be aware of children’s whereabouts at all times.
“It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the tragic passing of five young souls in Kakamas,” a statement from the premier’s office said on Wednesday.
“On behalf of the provincial government and the people of the Northern Cape, the premier expresses her heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and the broader community of these young children.
“The premier wishes to make a passionate plea to all parents to always be mindful of the whereabouts of their children and to do everything humanly possible to protect and keep them from harm.
“It is the responsibility of every parent and also the broader community to look out for one another and take responsibility for all children in the community.”
Lucas added that the philosophy of “my child is your child and your child is my child” should be embraced in order to prevent tragedies such as this one.
“The premier appeals to members of the community to stand together during this trying time and to support the family. The provincial government will visit the families to assess and provide support where it is needed.”
The MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Martha Bartlett, also said that she was deeply saddened by the incident, reiterating the need for parents and community members in general to be vigilant.
“These five children were very young and still had their entire lives and bright futures ahead of them,” said Bartlett.
“I want to urge parents to be alert at all times and be aware of their children’s whereabouts to ensure their safety.
“Every child is a national asset and we should guard against these unforeseen events that unfold daily in our communities.”
The MEC further sent her heartfelt and deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the children.
“I know you’ll miss their presence in your homes and in your community. May God strengthen you in your time of bereavement.”
The DA Women’s Network (DAWN) shared the premier and MEC’s sentiments.
“We commiserate with the family on the loss of their children,” spokeswoman Safiya Stanfley said.
“The death of a child is a very heavy burden for a parent to bear. We hope that the horrific event serves as a wake-up call to parents to be vigilant and to be aware of their children’s whereabouts.”
Stanfley added that an accident can happen in an instant and therefore young children should not be left unsupervised while playing.
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