On Monday, 9 November 2020, Adalia Ncebeshe (31) and Hendrik Kokoene (49) appeared in the Potchefstroom Magistrate’s Court for kidnapping a four-month-old baby boy. The two suspects will remain in custody until their next court appearance on Wednesday, 18 November 2020 for a formal bail application.
The court appearance follows after an incident was reported on Tuesday, 3 November 2020. A 20-year-old woman (victim) with her baby, allegedly met Ncebeshe at a grocery store in Ventersdorp. Furthermore, Ncebeshe informed her that she is from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and offered to help the victim to obtain a SASSA grand for her baby.
On Wednesday, 4 November 2020, Ncebeshe allegedly went to the 20-year-old victim’s house to fetch her. The mother, baby and Ncebeshe boarded a taxi and drove from Ventersdorp to Potchefstroom. When they arrived in Potchefstroom at the taxi rank, all three of them got into a Red Toyota Tazz that was waiting for them, driven by the other suspect, Kokoene. They drove around in Potchefstroom and stopped at a Café, close to Potchefstroom Hospital, and asked the mother if she wanted to buy something to eat. The mother left her baby in the vehicle and went inside the shop, when she exited the shop, the Red Toyota Tazz and the occupants, including her four-month-old baby were gone.
Information was followed up by the Potchefstroom Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit (FCS) and on Thursday, 5 November 2020, during the evening (only one day after the alleged kidnapping) 49-year-old Hendrik Kokoene was traced and found in Ikageng, outside Potchefstroom, whilst 31-year-old Adalia Ncebeshe was found with the baby in Rustenburg. The suspects were arrested and the baby boy was handed back to his mother, unharmed.
The Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Sello Kwena congratulated the investigation team for a job done well. He said the police will continue to work hard to ensure the safety of the most vulnerable, women and children and to bring the perpetrators to book.