Action Society has received a mandate from the family of nine-year-old Zechariah Matthee to oversee the case after he was brutally murdered during a mass shooting in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain last week. Zechariah was one of three people killed when gunmen opened fire, claiming the lives of the child and two young adults aged 25 and 30.
Action Society attended the community memorial on Friday, 5 December, where devastated residents, loved ones and faith leaders gathered to honour Zechariah’s life and demand justice. The organisation is now supporting the family and community as the investigation continues.
“This tragedy is another heartbreaking example of how children in gang affected communities are left unprotected while violent criminals operate with impunity,” said Kaylynn Palm, Head of Action Centre: Western Cape. “We refuse to allow Zechariah’s case to become another file collecting dust. We will actively monitor the investigation and push for accountability.”
A deadly week for children in Cape Town
Zechariah’s killing forms part of a devastating pattern of violence against children across Cape Town and the broader province. In just one week, multiple children have been shot, killed or critically injured:
Kensington, Cape Town (6 December):
Fourteen-year-old Alnika Mitchell was shot dead in her front yard while watching learners celebrate their matric farewells. She was an innocent bystander, another child caught in the crossfire of violent criminality.
Cloetesville, Stellenbosch (7 December):
A four-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy were shot when gunmen in a passing vehicle opened fire on an adult man. The bullets struck the children while they were playing outside. The girl is fighting for her life in hospital after being shot in the neck. The boy sustained an arm wound.
These incidents paint a horrifying picture. Children in the Western Cape are being gunned down in their homes, yards and streets. This is a full blown emergency, and Action Society warns that without real policing capacity and community driven safety interventions, more children will die.
“Cape Town’s children are living in a war zone while government remains paralysed,” added Palm. “We need specialised localised policing with real resources and real accountability. Our communities cannot survive a system that is distant, centralised and failing at every basic level.”
Action Society calls on SAPS to make the investigation into Zechariah’s murder an urgent priority and to intensify operations in gang affected areas where children continue to fall victim to unchecked violence. The organisation will continue to support affected families and demand action from government structures that have failed to protect the province’s most vulnerable residents.
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