The safety of children, even in the presence of those trained to protect them, has become a particular issue under the spotlight recently.

In one matter, the trial of three police officers – who allegedly killed a disabled teen in Johannesburg – started afresh on Monday.

The three officers are alleged to have shot and killed 16-year-old Nathaniel Julies near his Eldorado Park home in 2020, when Julies – who had Down Syndrome – was coming from a spaza shop in the area.

Court proceedings against the cops were halted earlier this year after the presiding judge died – but police watchdog, IPID, says the matter is now back in court.

But there’s a much more prevalent trend of child murder in broader society.

The Western Cape Legislature wants to know how police plan to address child murders perpetrated in communities.

This comes after at least four children were killed in the province in past weeks.

The bodies of two young girls were found in Albertinia, a four-year-old girl was killed in Paarl, and a family recently learned that their missing child was found dead in a bush in Philippi.

All of those children were around, or under, 10 years old.

SAPS management is expected to appear before the Standing Committee on Community Safety soon, to provide a plan on the way forward.