Cape Town - This week marked the two-year anniversary of the murder of 4-yearold Tamia Botha and police have revealed that a cold case team has been assigned with additional suspects being reviewed – while the child's mother and community leaders claim they know who the killer is but that their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
The Paarl community will never forget September 25, 2022, the day Tamia's body was found on school grounds. The community had searched for hours for Tamia during load shedding.
This week, Lieutenant-General Khosi Senthumule, Divisional Commissioner of Detectives and Forensic Services confirmed the case was receiving attention by their cold case squad and DNA evidence was being pursued.
She revealed that a rape case was also now being investigated by police.
At the time when Tamia's body was discovered, police said she had not been raped.
“Mia Botha, rape, eight suspects identified and DNA submitted and they all came back negative,” said Senthumule.
“The last sample was in September 2024. Identified five further suspects. We have deployed the National Head of Cold Cases for recommendation.
“Provincial FCS, Family, Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit will proceed with the case and national will oversee it. Our teams are working around the clock.
“The matter is receiving adequate attention. All witnesses interviewed. Everything is being done, working with the cold squad in the province and the complainant informed of the status.”
It was further revealed that plastic had apparently been removed from Tamia's mouth which had been lodged inside her throat and this sample is also part of the forensic investigation.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg said they could not comment further on the investigation.
“Be advised that the matter you are referring to is still under investigation,” he said.
“Due to the sensitive nature of the investigation this office will not divulge any information that might jeopardise the investigation.”
Shortly after Tamia's murder, police arrested two men who were later released.
Tamia’s mother, Udene Botha told the Weekend Argus she called on police to arrest a man who claimed he knew how Tamia’s body had been left by the killer: “I did not know him and he did not know Tamia.
“He said that a man had placed Mia’s body there and that her eyes were closed and that she had green eyes and that she was very bekkig (cheeky).
“How did he know these things and why has the police not arrested or questioned him?”
Botha said police had visited her home last week.
“The detective said they have one person that they are going to question but that they must gain his trust.”
Police Oversight and Community Safety MEC, Anroux Marais said she would be following up on Tamia’s case with provincial police.
“It is very concerning that there has been such a delay in this matter. My thoughts are with the family who need to have certainty and closure. I will take up the matter with the provincial police management at the earliest opportunity.”
Councillor Leandre Matthee who has been supporting Tamia’s parents said they were frustrated because their pleas were not being heard by police.
“The day when Mia’s body was discovered, I was sitting with the mother and another person,” she said.
“We were still in shock and crying when this young man, who lives two metres from where the body was discovered, entered the yard where Mia lived and asked to speak with the mother.
“He told the mother he wants to place her at ease that her child was not killed violently and that he had a vision about this.
“He looked at the mother’s eyes and said that Mia had the same eyes like hers.
“When the mother asked how he knew the child, he began to leave the yard.
“We did not think anything about that at first because we thought he was just a drug addict.
“The day when we went to identity the body, they told us that she had not been raped.
“We called on police to question him, to arrest him but we were told he is the one who has been informing police and that I am standing in their way and can face arrest.
“We know who did this to Mia but the police are not listening to us.”
Ingrid Harding of Track n Trace who had been part of the search for Tamia said they were appalled that there had been no arrest.
“It has been two years now and by now we would have thought that FCS would have arrested the suspect,” she said.