Centurion Father and Daughter Tragedy Sparks Calls for Stricter Gun and Mental Health Measures

Community in Shock as Laerskool Rooihuiskraal Mourns Loss

The Centurion community is grappling with a heartbreak that has left families and schools reeling. Eight-year-old Amé Mia Green and her father, Warren Green, died in an apparent murder-suicide at their Amberfield home last weekend.

Laerskool Rooihuiskraal, where Amé Mia was a pupil, released a statement offering condolences:

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of a beloved Amé Mia Green and her father, Warren Green. Our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences go out to the family, friends and all those affected by this great loss. May they rest in peace.”

Community members continue to send messages of support to the grieving family, who have requested privacy during this incredibly difficult time.

The Incident: Murder-Suicide in Amberfield

Pretoria police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk confirmed that officers were called to the Green home in Amberfield on Friday, 21 November, at approximately 8:15 pm.

“Upon arrival, officers discovered the bodies of an adult male, aged 44, and an 8-year-old girl, lying on a bed, covered in blood,” Van Dyk said.

Emergency medical personnel declared both deceased at the scene, where a firearm was recovered. A murder case and an inquest docket have been officially opened, with crime scene management teams assisting the investigation.

A Growing Trend Across South Africa

Criminologist Dr Witness Maluleka described the tragedy as part of a worrying trend in South Africa.

“This type of killing is becoming more common, often fueled by a mixture of love loss, self-hate, low self-esteem, poverty, unemployment, and revenge motives,” he explained.

Dr Maluleka noted that children are often the innocent victims of domestic conflicts, particularly when relationships collapse or emotional pain escalates into violence.

“Death is seen by perpetrators as a last resort to ease their suffering, but the societal and psychological consequences for surviving family members are devastating,” he added.

Experts Say These Deaths Could Be Prevented

Criminal law expert Cornelia van Graan emphasised that incidents like this underscore the urgent need for better firearm oversight and mental health monitoring.

“It’s not enough to check competence when a firearm is first issued. There needs to be a continuous evaluation of mental health and risk for gun owners,” she said.

Van Graan also tied the tragedy to broader societal concerns, noting that it coincides with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. She stressed that while the campaign highlights violence against women, attention should also be given to education, mental health, and preventive measures for all community members.

A Community Left to Mourn

As Centurion grapples with this heartbreaking event, social media feeds are filled with condolences, stories of remembrance, and calls for action. Parents, educators, and local leaders are questioning what could have been done to prevent such a tragedy.

“We must ask ourselves: how many more families need to experience this pain before we take serious steps to prevent it?” said a concerned local resident commenting on a community forum.

With firearm safety, mental health awareness, and domestic violence interventions under renewed scrutiny, the hope is that lessons learned from this tragedy can prevent further loss of life.

This story reminds us that the ripple effects of domestic violence and mental health crises are real, leaving communities, schools, and families to reckon with pain that could often be prevented.