Bishop Lavis: 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.
According to South African Government News Agency, Captain Cottee has been with the police service for 17 years and holds both a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in child and family studies. Her role as a forensic social worker involves providing expert testimony in courts of law, conducting forensic interviews, and investigating child abuse cases. Cottee utilizes age-appropriate techniques to gather accurate information from child victims, aiding the courts in making fair decisions.
Cottee’s work covers vast distances as she traces and assesses child victims across
six policing areas, including Bishop Lavis, Bonteheuwel, Elsies Rivier, Langa, Ruyterwacht, and Valhalla Park. One of her notable career achievements includes the conviction of a sexual predator in 2021, sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment by the Parow Regional Court. The perpetrator was a respected community member who exploited familial trust to groom and impregnate a 16-year-old victim.
In another case, Cottee compiled a forensic assessment report and testified as an expert witness, leading to the sentencing of a stepfather to 25 years in prison for repeatedly raping two girls under ten. Cottee emphasizes teamwork, stating, “These sentences are the result of good teamwork and cooperation, each team member executing his or her duties to the best of their abilities.”
The Bishop Lavis community, known for its challenges with gangsterism and violent crimes, benefits from Cottee’s understanding of its dynamics, which aids in her effective assessment reports. She advises adults to take children’s disclosures o
f potential abuse seriously and act promptly in the child’s best interest.
Cottee finds fulfillment in her work, stating, “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.” Her dedication reflects the SAPS’s commitment to protecting women, children, and vulnerable individuals.
The 16 Days of Activism campaign is part of a broader governmental effort to combat violence against women and children year-round. This year’s theme is “30 Years of Advancing Collective Action to End Violence against Women and Children,” and the campaign runs from 25 November to 10 December annually.