Woman to appear in court for stealing newborn
A 30-year-old woman was due to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday to face a charge of child theft, police said.
|||Johannesburg - A 30-year-old woman was due to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday to face a charge of child theft, police said.
South African Police Service spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Thulani Zwane said the woman was arrested on Monday in the KwaNyuswa area, Hillcrest, near Durban.
“On August 13, 2016 at about 10:00, the victim was in one of the hospitals in Durban after giving birth to her baby boy. She was approached by the suspect who offered to assist her as the victim’s family did not want to come and fetch her from hospital,” he said.
Zwane said the victim and the 30-year-old woman left the hospital and proceeded to Durban where she offered the victim food.
“Later the suspect allegedly gave money to the victim to go and buy airtime while the suspect was waiting with her baby boy at a taxi rank. When the victim returned back to them, both her baby and the suspect were missing,” Zwane said.
A case of child stealing was opened at Durban Central police station.
The suspect was traced and the child was found alive.
The child was returned to his mother after he was taken for medical check-ups.
KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Mmamonnye Ngobeni praised Durban Central police officers for working tirelessly in tracing and arresting the suspect who was allegedly involved in stealing the child.
“I am also happy that the child was found alive as in some cases, missing children are found dead. The child has been re-united with his mother in a good healthy condition,” she said.
African News Agency