Germiston's Captain Botha celebrated this Women's Month

Captain Karin Botha, a forensic social worker attached to the Germiston Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit, is being recognised for her outstanding contribution to the fight against crime.

The 41-year-old officer has helped the SAPS secure four life sentences and a combined 110 years’ imprisonment for three human traffickers.

As South Africa commemorates Women’s Month this August, the SAPS has launched its national Women’s Month campaign under the theme, ‘Women Leading the Reset Agenda’.

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The campaign celebrates the courage, dedication and professionalism of female police officers who are making a meaningful difference in the lives of women, children and other vulnerable groups while advancing the SAPS Reset Agenda through ethical leadership, accountability and service excellence.

Guided by this theme, SAPS is highlighting exceptional women whose leadership, compassion and commitment are strengthening public confidence in policing through victim-centred policing and quality investigations.

Among them is Botha, who joined the SAPS nine years ago.

Her primary role as a forensic social worker is to conduct forensic interviews in child abuse investigations. Using age-appropriate interviewing techniques, she obtains accurate and reliable information from child victims to assist the courts in reaching fair and just decisions.

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Botha said she played an instrumental role in the successful prosecution of three human traffickers, who were sentenced on April 23 to four life sentences and a combined 110 years’ imprisonment.

“The sentences will run concurrently. The three Zimbabwean nationals were found guilty by the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg on multiple counts of trafficking in persons, fraud, contravening the Immigration Act, and the possession, destruction, concealment or tampering with documents,” said Botha.

She explained that in August 2022, one of the traffickers and four child victims, aged between six and 14, were intercepted at OR Tambo International Airport while reportedly en route to Ireland.

“They were found in possession of fraudulent travel documents. Two more traffickers were arrested shortly afterwards. The investigating officer referred the child victims to me for forensic assessments. By first gaining their trust, I was able to obtain detailed accounts of what had happened to them,” said Botha.

Her contribution strengthened the evidential value of the children’s testimony, leading to the successful prosecution of the three accused.

Botha has consistently demonstrated service excellence and has received numerous awards for her contribution to securing successful convictions.

In 2020, she received a Certificate of Commendation from the Minister of Police for the role she played in securing the conviction of a paedophile, who was sentenced to life imprisonment and an additional 100 years for multiple counts of possessing, manufacturing and distributing child sexual abuse material, as well as child abuse.

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Fondly known as ‘Tannie Karin’, Botha holds a degree in Social Work and a master’s degree in Forensic Practice.

She believes forensic social work is more than a profession—it is a calling that allows her to be a voice for child victims in court.

“Being a forensic social worker is my calling. My job is not easy; my clients are children whose innocence was stolen the moment they were violated. My duty and purpose are to ensure justice is served by being a voice for these young victims in court,” said Botha.

The SAPS said Botha embodies the values of its Reset Agenda through her unwavering commitment to serving the people of South Africa with dignity, honour and pride.