A murder investigation has been launched by Prince Alfred Hamlet SAPS following the tragic death of six-year-old Desney Struis, who was discovered deceased on a farm. This incident has brought the issue of child-on-child sexual abuse into sharp focus, prompting experts to warn about rising involvement of children in severe sexual offenses after exposure to trauma and violence.
The situation gained prominence in the Western Cape after a 14-year-old boy was arrested, accused of killing Desney Struis. It is reported that Desney Struis went missing from Visgat farm, located near Witzenberg, Ceres, and is believed to have been sexually assaulted. The Ceres case occurs while the country is also dealing with another incident in Limpopo involving a 14-year-old boy accused of raping and impregnating his 13-year-old relative, who was scheduled to appear before the Children's Court.
Police confirmed that the 14-year-old suspect from the Western Cape appeared in court on July 16, subsequent to his arrest related to Desney's murder. The investigation has since been handed over to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS). The minor suspect, whose identity was withheld, was apprehended the previous week and appeared in court on July 16. Authorities stated that Desney Struis, who went missing earlier in the month, was charged with murder.
It is alleged that Desney was last seen playing in the sand with the suspect before her mother returned from work and noticed her absence. A subsequent community search led to the discovery of her body near a river. There are allegations that she was both sexually assaulted and possibly strangled. On Tuesday, police confirmed the case file was transferred to the Ceres Family Violence and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit for continued inquiry, though no further specifics could be provided due to the case's sensitive nature.
Police spokesperson Thembakazi Mphendukana stated that Prince Alfred Hamlet SAPS initiated a murder case concerning an event at a farm on Tuesday, July 7, where a six-year-old girl was killed. He added that a 14-year-old male suspect was detained and presented in court, with the matter postponed until Thursday, July 16, at which point the case docket was sent to Ceres FCS for further examination.
Dr Shaheda Omar, Director of the Teddy Bear Foundation, noted a rise in child-on-child sexual abuse cases since 2019, suggesting that perpetrators are frequently exposed to some form of abuse. Omar emphasized the need for accountability, protection, and rehabilitation regarding this issue. Her research focused on boys aged 12 and under who sexually abused other children, highlighting that most offenders (96%) were between 9 and 12 years old, underscoring the necessity of understanding the root causes for better intervention and prevention.
Zona Morton, a children's rights and crime activist, supported Omar's findings, asserting that children subjected to trauma and abuse often end up facing legal issues. She commented that violence impacts children daily in the Western Cape, noting that youngsters are frequently caught in parental domestic disputes. As an advocate for children's rights, she urged the Children's Commission to take immediate action on early interventions, criticizing the constant exposure of young people to violent gang killings on the Cape Flats. She called upon the four pillars of the State to begin acting without delay.
Furthermore, Siya Monakali from the GBV organization Ilitha Labantu suggested that when a child is accused of a serious violent offense, society must confront difficult yet essential questions regarding whether current prevention and protection systems are effectively identifying and supporting vulnerable children.
Active work is being carried out in Navoi region to comprehensively develop animal husbandry, implement modern technologies, and advanced breeding experience.
During a meeting held on November 1, 2024, which discussed the socio-economic development of Navoi region and the effective use of available opportunities, particular attention was paid to the development of the livestock industry. Within the framework of this meeting, relevant instructions were given regarding the import of meat and wool sheep and rams from Mughulistan to the Konimekh district for the period from 2024 to 2026.
In carrying out these tasks, veterinary scientists selected 'Bayat' breed sheep, which are adapted to local climatic conditions and are characterized by high productivity. The average live weight of the sheep reaches 70–80 kilograms, and the weight of the rams is 100–120 kilograms.
To date, over 15 thousand small-horned agricultural animals of the 'Bayat' breed have been imported into the Konimekh district from Mughulistan and are currently being maintained. This is important for improving breeding work in the district and increasing the volume of meat and wool production.
Currently, more than 300 farms operate in the district. These farms house 631.8 thousand head of small ruminants, 28.2 thousand head of cattle, and 16.5 thousand camels.
Furthermore, with the aim of further improving the quality of breeding in the livestock industry, it is planned to establish 30 artificial insemination points in the districts where livestock farms are located. Training seminars are being organized jointly with the administration of Konimekh district to train specialists who will conduct artificial insemination work.
Two fathers shared their difficult stories related to custody court proceedings. They spoke about the emotional and financial burden they carry due to being denied contact with their children amidst domestic violence accusations and prolonged legal processes.
A 52-year-old father from Johannesburg reported fighting for the opportunity to be involved in his daughter's life for eight years. He noted that the last time he contacted his daughter, who is now 12, was when she was only four. This father described his state as a soul-wrenching break, noting that he now wakes up crying every night, unable to concentrate on anything but thoughts of the child and the absence of a father in her life.
His troubles began after his ex-partner accused him of domestic violence. Although he believed he had seen signs of her desire to leave beforehand, the police were called one night. The ex-partner accused him of aggression after he raised his voice. Arriving officers, including eight police officers, established that he was not under the influence of alcohol and was not violent. Nevertheless, because the call concerned domestic violence, the child had to be removed from the home, and he watched his ex-partner leave with his sleeping child.
After they returned home, a month later, she announced her departure and took the child. Eight years later, he only began presenting evidence in his defense. He emphasized that the relationship between him and his daughter suffered, but this reflects the reality of the law, where a person is considered guilty even before proof of guilt. The father fears that the damage to the relationship with his child may be irreparable, especially due to the influence of false memories that could become true for the child.
The lengthy process has seriously affected him both emotionally and financially. It pains him that he could not attend his daughter's first day of school, her concerts, or participate in joint father-child events. Furthermore, he went bankrupt due to legal costs, closed his business because he could not balance work and fighting for his daughter, and was forced to mortgage his house, risking losing it due to unpaid and additional legal fees exceeding 1 million rands. He also mentioned reading studies on the tendency of fathers involved in high-conflict divorces to commit suicide, but decided not to take that path for his daughter.
The father stated that laws must be changed to ensure equal rights for parents. He wonders why the principles of gender equality are not applied to child custody, and why fathers are often portrayed as villains while mothers remain innocent. He believes that a 50/50 joint custody arrangement should be implemented, except in cases of proven abuse or sexual misconduct.
A 40-year-old father from KwaZulu-Natal recounted that after a three-year legal battle, he managed to reunite with his daughter last month despite domestic violence allegations. Following this, they sought mediation and developed a visitation plan. However, the mother soon started a new relationship, and the situation changed. He recalls the day he went to pick up his daughter from the after-school center and was told she had been taken by her mother.
When he arrived at the property she had rented, he was informed that she, along with the child and her boyfriend, had 'moved' to his home, located over 600 km away. Shortly thereafter, he received an email demanding his appearance in the High Court on various charges, including neglect and sexual abuse. He had to begin a fight to prove his innocence and succeeded, proving that the child had not actually moved but had been abducted. He won the case, and she was ordered to return the child to KwaZulu-Natal. Despite an appeal, she lost, but still did not return him. After further legal battles and the mother's admission of contempt of court, he finally managed to bring the child home, and they now share custody for an equal number of days each month.
The man reported that he continues to work on rebuilding his relationship with his daughter. He said that the mother and her boyfriend tried to distort her opinion of him. He recalled meeting with a family lawyer, where the boyfriend asked the child, 'What did your father do to you?' and 'Is she afraid of me?'. Despite all this, he continued to fight, pray to God, and stay strong, even when he wanted to die. He called this experience torment, which left him emotionally broken and cost millions of rands in legal expenses, but it was worth it knowing that his child would not grow up without him. He advised other fathers not to lose hope and not to give up on participating in their children's lives.
The recovery of the housing stock in South Africa will face difficulties if the country's largest economic center continues to approve very few new residential construction projects.
Johannesburg is an economic powerhouse of South Africa and a magnet for people seeking opportunities. According to independent economist Sandra Gordon, the city contributes about 15% to the national GDP and is home to approximately 10% of the country's population.
However, over the past five years, Johannesburg has accounted for only 3.8% of all approved housing development plans nationwide. This figure is only slightly higher than that of the Nelson Mandela district, which accounts for just 2% of South Africa's population and constitutes about 2.6% of its economy.
Homebuyers in South Africa could enter the second quarter of 2026 with increased caution due to geopolitical tensions, but the local property market remained resilient. Data from ooba Home Loans for the second quarter of 2026 reflects positive growth in average purchase prices, approved loan amounts, and bank willingness to lend, despite the challenging economic backdrop.
This quarter coincided with a sharp rise in fuel prices, increasing inflationary pressure, and the first interest rate hike in several years, after the South African Reserve Bank raised the base rate by 25 basis points in May. Although pressure on household budgets suggested some slowdown in activity, the data indicates more of a pause than a reversal.
Rhys Dyer, CEO of ooba Group, noted that while the volume of applications decreased by 1.5% compared to the previous year, the total value of applications grew by 4.7% over the same period. This suggests that even if demand slightly decreased, the prices of acquired properties remain unchanged.
The long-term trend highlights a close relationship between borrowing costs and mortgage activity: application volumes usually weaken when the base rate rises and strengthen when rates stabilize and begin to fall. In Dyer's view, the slowdown in the second quarter of 2026 reflects increased sensitivity to affordability rather than a loss of desire to own a home. He predicts that confidence among buyers and application activity will increase after inflationary pressures ease and interest rate prospects become clearer.
Despite the moderation in mortgage activity during the quarter, data from ooba Home Loans for the second quarter of 2026 demonstrates the continued strength of property prices. The average purchase price increased by 4.2% year-on-year and 1.6% quarter-on-quarter, reaching R1,766,796, meaning property prices are outpacing consumer inflation. First-time buyers also paid more: the average purchase price rose by 6.1% year-on-year and 3.9% quarter-on-quarter, amounting to R1,315,396.
The annual growth in the average approved loan size followed a similar pattern, increasing by 5% across all approved mortgage applications in the second quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, first-time buyer applications showed an impressive 7.9% year-on-year growth in average loan size. Dyer emphasized that the growth in approved loan size outpaces the growth in property prices, signaling that banks continue to support qualified buyers with more attractive lending terms amid rising asset values.
Among regional trends, Johannesburg demonstrated the strongest overall housing price growth—10.1%, followed by Limpopo with a 9.6% increase in the first half of the year. Free State, being one of the most affordable markets in the country, deviated from the general trend: prices for first-time buyers rose by 6.7% compared to the overall growth of 0.4%. The Gauteng South and East regions showed similar growth for both first-time buyers and the overall category.
According to the FNB Commercial Property Insight report for Q2 2026, the domestic macroeconomic environment remains complex in the short term. However, the situation is expected to become more favorable in the medium term as inflation slows, borrowing decreases, and business confidence and investment gradually increase due to structural reforms.
Real GDP growth is projected to improve moderately from 1.1% in 2025 to approximately 1.2% in 2026, then accelerate to 1.3% in 2027, and approach 2.0% by 2028/29. Siphamandala Mkhwanazi, an FNB economist, noted that although the economic consequences of the Middle East conflict have weakened short-term forecasts relative to pre-war expectations, he considers this shock temporary and largely external.
He added that declining borrowing costs, slowing inflation, and ongoing structural reforms should support a gradual recovery in business confidence, investment, and employment in the medium term, creating a stronger foundation for the gradual strengthening of economic activity. However, he stated that the investment fund remains a key weakness, as fixed investments in both residential and non-residential property remain significantly below pre-pandemic levels, indicating that confidence has not yet recovered sufficiently to support broad development expansion.
