Action Society demands justice for four-year-old Mia Botha after three years of silence
Justice activist organisation Action Society has condemned the deafening silence and shocking lack of progress in the investigation into the brutal murder of four-year-old Tamia (“Mia”) Botha from Paarl East. Her killers remain free 1,128 days after her death, leaving her family in a state of anguish and uncertainty.
Mia disappeared from a playground near her home on 25 September 2022. The next day, her lifeless body was discovered in Nederburg, Paarl, with plastic forced down her throat. Three years later, her family still has no answers, no arrests, and no accountability.
“Even after repeated escalations to the Western Cape Police Commissioner, the Public Protector, the Portfolio Committee on Police, and the Cold Case Unit, we are met with silence. It is outrageous that a four-year-old child’s murder can be treated with such apathy,” said Action Society spokesperson Juanita du Preez.
In October 2024, the case was reassigned to SAPS’s Cold Case Unit after Action Society’s persistent interventions. Initially, this seemed to bring renewed hope, as the family finally received feedback and engagement. However, months later, that progress has evaporated. Communication has stopped, and there is no visible sign of further investigation.
“This silence is an insult to Mia’s memory and a betrayal of public trust,” Du Preez said. “The Cold Case Unit started well, but it seems even they have lost momentum. We cannot allow justice for Mia to fade away. A four-year-old was murdered. That should never become just another file gathering dust on a desk.”
Since September 2022, Action Society has sent more than a dozen formal letters to SAPS and oversight bodies demanding progress and transparency. Below is a summary of key actions:
- 25 Sep 2022: Mia goes missing.
- 26 Sep 2022: Her body is found in Paarl.
- 29 Sep 2022: Action Society receives the family’s mandate.
- 30 Sep 2022: Two suspects appear in court but are released without explanation.
- Nov 2022 – Feb 2025: Repeated letters sent to the Western Cape Police Commissioner, SAPS Service Complaints Centre, and the Portfolio Committee on Police. Most went unanswered.
- Oct 2024: Case handed to the Cold Case Unit. Initial engagement followed by months of silence.
- Mar 2025: Action Society lodges a formal complaint with the Public Protector. Advocate S. Mathebula is appointed to investigate.
- Sep 2025: Oversight bodies confirm receipt of reports but no measurable progress reported.
“For more than three years, Mia’s parents have been forced to live in uncertainty while their child’s killers roam free,” Du Preez added. “This is more than a failure of policing. It is a moral collapse. If a murdered four-year-old cannot get justice, what hope is there for any other victim in South Africa?”
Action Society is reiterating calls for the immediate intervention of the National Commissioner of Police to appoint a senior, accountable investigator. They demand full transparency and regular written updates to Mia’s parents.
“The Public Protector’s final report on SAPS’s maladministration in this case must be released without further delay. Mia must not be forgotten. Her silence must not become ours.”