DURBAN – On 20 May 2020, police officers from the Port Shepstone Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) arrested two females aged 17 and 20 for kidnapping. The suspects appeared in the Umzimkhulu Magistrates Court yesterday and the 17-year-old was released to the parent’s care.
It is alleged that on 18 May 2020 at 09:45, a 23-year-old mother was discharged from hospital in Umzimkhulu after giving birth to a baby boy. Whilst at the hospital, she was approached by two females who pretended to have visited a relative in the maternity ward. They offered to leave together with her as they were also going to the Umzimkhulu CBD. When they reached the CBD, they took the baby from the mother when she wanted to go into the lavatory.
Upon her return, she could not find the females or her four-day-old baby boy. She reported the incident to Umzimkhulu police and a case of kidnapping was opened. The docket was assigned to the Port Shepstone FCS Unit for investigation. An intensive investigation led the team of investigating officers to Mfulamahle Location where the two females and babies were found. Suspects were immediately arrested. The baby was taken to the hospital for a medical check-up. Investigations revealed that the baby was destined to Gauteng province where one of the suspect’s boyfriend resides.