Action Society has instructed its legal team to write an official letter to the SAPS Western Cape Provincial Commissioner about feedback on Mia Botha’s murder case.
“We will never stop fighting for justice to prevail in little Mia’s case,” said Kaylynn Palm, Western Cape Action Centre coordinator at Action Society. “It is unbelievable that we must go to these lengths to get answers. But, sadly, it does reflect the maladministration that is omnipresent in the South African criminal justice system.”
Shortly after Mia’s body was found, Action Society received a mandate from Mia’s family to aid in further investigation of the case concerning prosecutorial oversights, the competency of law enforcement and the swift and harsh punishment for perpetrators of abuse and crimes against children. Mia was found murdered in Nederburg, Paarl, on 26 September 2022 after the four-year-old went missing the previous day.
Mia’s case was assigned to the SAPS Paarl East and, subsequently, Child Protection Services for investigation. However, these units refuse to give any answers or updates to Mia’s mother, Udene, family or Action Society. Furthermore, Action Society has previously (and more than once) escalated the concerns to Lt Gen Thembisile Patekile, Western Cape Provincial Commissioner of Police, but has not received any feedback.
“We hope the legal letter will force the authorities to inform the family about the progress in this case,” said Palm.
