The Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison, Mr Jackie Macie, has called on communities across the province to take an active role in protecting women and girls, following the recent killing of a seven-year-old girl in Delpark near Delmas.

Macie expressed deep concern over the rising levels of brutality directed at women and children, describing the situation as “disturbing and unacceptable in any self-loving society.”

“We must not only condemn these incidents, but work closely together to better protect women and children,” he said.

According to police reports, the lifeless body of the seven-year-old was discovered a few days after she was reported missing on 10 November 2025. The child’s death has sparked widespread outrage, coming just days after another horrific incident in which a 19-year-old woman from Mbombela was stabbed to death at her home in Mattafin on 3 November 2025.

Macie said that despite government efforts — including new and revised legislation aimed at protecting vulnerable groups — cases of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) continue to rise.

“We must work harder to turn the tide against GBVF. These acts of callousness have no place in our society,” he said.

He urged communities to remain calm while law enforcement agencies work tirelessly to bring the perpetrators to justice, noting that several offenders have been successfully convicted and are serving lengthy prison sentences.

The MEC also called on police officers to handle abuse and murder cases with greater urgency and precision, commending the provincial SAPS for swiftly activating a 72-hour plan to track down suspects in the Delmas case.

In his closing remarks, Macie appealed to parents and guardians to be more vigilant about the whereabouts and safety of their children.

“Protecting our women and children is a shared responsibility. We must all play our part in ensuring that no child or woman suffers at the hands of violence again,” he said.