BLOEMFONTEIN: The concept of a police officer dedicated to pursuing justice for all victims of crime, is exemplified by individuals like Sgt Badiri Bessi Nthoba. She is among the women in blue, of the SAPS women who are being celebrated in August, declared Women’s Month.
This month recognises, among many other things, the strides made by professional women in terms of inspiring positive change in their respective fields.
Nthoba is attached to the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit in Mangaung. In the team of 31 investigators, she is one of three dedicated to investigating serial rape cases.
The officers in this unit have established a reputation of going beyond the call of duty to protect vulnerable groups, which include women and children.
Being at the coalface of police operations, Nthoba has the courage to uphold the rule of law.
As a mother of two, she is relentless in her pursuit of justice for victims of sexual offences.
Nthoba makes her presence felt through contributions to the effective operation of the Mangaung FCS unit.
Evidence thereof is her contribution in collectively securing 20 life sentences and placing 152 sexual offenders behind bars in the past year alone.
A recent success includes her and her unit securing a life sentence, plus an additional five years’ imprisonment, for a perpetrator who raped a minor girl while forcing her friend to watch the horrific ordeal.
But Nthoba’s commitment goes beyond the courtroom. She goes the extra mile in restoring the dignity of victims left in her care.
One of her most memorable cases involved a serial rapist who was handed down five life sentences across four dockets. One of the key witnesses, a young victim, had gone missing shortly before she was due to testify.
“I remember her father telling me he had not seen her for days, and that she was not in a good space,” recalls Nthoba.
“We drove around Welkom looking for her.
“When I finally found her, she did not want to go through with the case.
“I sat down with her and explained how important it was for her to testify, not just for justice, but for her own healing.”
They returned to Bloemfontein late that night, bought her food and toiletries, and ensured she had a safe place to sleep.
“The next morning, she stood tall in court − clean, sober, and ready.
“Seeing her take the stand, I knew she was on the path to reclaiming her dignity.
“It felt good.”
As one of the 176 FCS units in the country, members of the Mangaung FCS believe that every conviction is a step closer to a safer South Africa for all women, children, and other vulnerable groups.
