Every patron who was at a Bedford tavern on Thursday night failed little Lindokuhle Bakawuli.
The three-year-old, who was butchered and her tiny body discarded on the side of a road, had been at a tavern with her mother and two-month-old sibling when she was taken away from the establishment, allegedly by her uncle.
The uncle returned an hour later without Lindokuhle and passers-by later found the girl’s mutilated body in Ndlovini township.
The heartbreaking, cruel manner in which she was killed has cast a spotlight on the culture of violence in our society, along with the socioeconomic problems of alcoholism in communities, particularly in rural towns in SA.
It has also raised a number of questions about the circumstances surrounding her death which we hope will be answered in the weeks and months to come.
Why would a mother take her toddler and infant to a tavern? Why did the management of the tavern allow her in with children?
Why did none of the other patrons kick up a fuss to ensure she left the establishment with the children?
Did no-one else notice the uncle leaving with the little girl? Did they ask any questions?
The answer is that every person in the tavern should shoulder responsibility for Lindokuhle’s death; they all failed her.
Eastern Cape police commissioner Lt-Gen Nomthetheleli Mene said such a brutal act against an innocent child highlighted the urgent need to address crimes against women and children.
“We must emphasise the critical responsibility of parents and guardians in safeguarding the wellbeing of their children,” Mene said.
“The presence of a young child in a tavern is both concerning and unacceptable.
“We urge all parents to exercise greater care and judgment in their actions.”
It goes without saying that parents must at all times take responsibility for their children’s wellbeing and not put them in potentially dangerous situations.
The Liquor Board must come down hard on establishments which allow minors into taverns as they play a role in further perpetuating the culture of parental neglect and, in some cases, abuse.
There must be justice for little Lindokuhle and the many other children who continue to be victims of violence at the hands of cruel adults.
HeraldLIVE
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