Policewoman makes a difference in her community

As the country continues to observe the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has praised Captain Gail Cottee for her sterling work in putting perpetrators behind bars.

Captain Cottee, a forensic social worker, is attached to the Bishop Lavis Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Investigations Unit in the Western Cape.

She joined the police service 17 years ago and holds a bachelor’s degree in social work.

She later went on to obtain a master’s degree in child and family studies.

Forensic social work is a specialised field of social work practice within the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) environment, which is characterised by the social worker’s primary function of providing expert testimony in courts of law.

As a forensic social worker, Cottee’s core function is to conduct forensic interviews in the investigation of child abuse cases using age-appropriate techniques to obtain accurate information from child victims to assist a court to make just and fair decisions.

Often travelling vast distances, Cottee traces and assesses child victims within six policing areas that include Bishop Lavis, Bonteheuwel, Elsies Rivier, Langa, Ruyterwacht and Valhalla Park.

Among her many career highlights include the sentencing of a sexual predator to 30 years’ imprisonment by the Parow Regional Court in 2021.

The perpetrator (63) was a respected member of the Bishop Lavis community who befriended the victim’s grandmother while he also gained trust from the rest of the family. He sexually groomed and impregnated the 16-year-old victim twice over a period of four years.

Cottee was also assigned to compile a forensic assessment report and testified in court as an expert witness whereby two girl victims under the age of ten were repeatedly raped over a period by their stepfather.

In December 2023 the Parow Regional Court sentenced the 48-year-old stepfather to 25 years in prison.

“These sentences are the result of good teamwork and cooperation, each team member executing his or her duties to the best of their abilities,” said Cottee.

The community of Bishop Lavis is known for gangsterism and high volumes of serious and violent crimes.

Cottee understands the dynamics of the communities she serves which enables her to relate to child victims and compile quality assessment reports.

Cottee said parents, caregivers, teachers or any other adult should never doubt or dismiss a child when they are disclosing the possibility of sexual abuse.

She also urged adults to contact their nearest police station, open a case and act in the best interest of the child.

“In my profession I learnt that every small action counts. It gives me great joy knowing that my services as a forensic social worker give voiceless child victims a voice in court,” said Cottee.

Captain Cottee is one of countless members who remain relentless in their pursuit to fulfil the mandate of the SAPS in protecting women, children and vulnerable persons with pride.

The 16 Days campaign forms part of government’s comprehensive 365 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children.

This year’s campaign is being held under the theme: “30 Years of Advancing Collective Action to End Violence against Women and Children”.

The campaign is held from 25 November to 10 December every year.