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Saxonsea Murder Case: 14-Year-Old’s Bail Hearing Sparks Outrage
A shocking case in Atlantis
The Atlantis community is reeling after a 14-year-old boy appeared in court facing charges of murder and attempted murder. The case, now unfolding at the Atlantis Magistrate’s Court, centres on a deadly shooting in Saxonsea that claimed the life of a 31-year-old man and left a four-year-old girl in critical condition.
On Friday, the teenager’s defence team made its case for bail, but proceedings were postponed to Monday, when the State will cross-examine the accused and call the investigating officer. The prosecution is opposing the boy’s release, arguing the seriousness of the charges demands he remain in custody.
A shooting that stunned the community
The violence erupted on Wednesday morning in Hoop Crescent, just as children were making their way to school. According to police, the young girl was walking to daycare with her mother when she was struck by a stray bullet. She was rushed to Red Cross Children’s War Memorial Hospital, where doctors continue to fight for her life.
The 31-year-old man, believed to have links to a local gang, died on the scene. Within two hours, police arrested the teenager they allege pulled the trigger.
“Gangs are using youngsters”
The revelation that a child is at the centre of such a violent act has left local leaders deeply shaken. Atlantis Ward Councillor Allister Lightburn said he was devastated by the news. “It is becoming a pattern now that gangs are using youngsters to do their dirty work. I am very sad, but unfortunately, the law has to take its course,” he said.
The councillor’s words echo a broader concern in Cape Town communities long scarred by gang activity. Young teenagers are increasingly being recruited to carry out violent crimes, shielded by their age and the perception that they face lighter consequences.
Violence breeding violence
Civil society voices have also weighed in. Ilitha Labanthu, an organisation with decades of experience tackling gender-based violence, said it was alarmed by the age of the accused. Spokesperson Siyabulela Monakali warned that children are becoming not only victims but also perpetrators of violence, reflecting a deep breakdown in South Africa’s social fabric.
He pointed to cycles of trauma, poverty, neglect, and easy access to firearms as drivers of this trend. “We need stronger measures to curb the flow of illegal firearms, while simultaneously investing in psychosocial support and community-based interventions that provide children with positive alternatives,” Monakali said.
A national crisis in focus
This case has become more than just a local tragedy. It shines a harsh light on a national crisis where young lives are being pulled into crime and violence before they ever have a chance to build a future. The bail hearing on Monday will decide one boy’s immediate fate, but for many South Africans, the bigger question is whether enough is being done to break the cycle that keeps producing more cases like this.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: Fedorowicz Criminal Law
