Elsies River community demands more resources after teen's murder

The Elsies River community are calling for more resources in the area following the brutal murder of a teenage boy on his way home from school.

Fourteen-year-old Bradwin George was shot multiple times in the head by six suspects on Friday last week.

Bradwin's murder comes amid ongoing shootings in the province, which have left more than 800 people dead in the last year, among them 300 children.

READ: Four suspects due in court for murder of Elsies River teen

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said 82 school safety officers have been deployed to schools in crime hotspot areas.

Spokesperson for the department in the provincial legislature, Peter Johnson, said more than 100 law enforcement officers were part of the team.

"These officers are helping to curb school-related crime. The DA welcomes this joint effort with the city of Cape Town, ensuring children can learn without fear."  

Elsies River safety initiative spokesperson, Imraahn Mukaddam, said more can be done to protect learners walking to and from schools.

"We used to have a project which we called the walking bus - they were very successful between 2016 and 2021 when funding was stopped for this project."

Mukkudam said increased community participation in safety initiatives would make a difference if properly supported by government.