A DURBAN mother’s nightmare ended on Sunday when she was reunited with her baby who was safely returned to her after being kidnapped on Friday, 23 August.
According to Captain Khepho Ndlovu, communications officer at Durban Central police, the 18-year-old mother Zanele Dlamini reported her 10-month-old baby had been stolen from her Mantsele home near the Durban Station. She had left the baby in the care of her siblings.
“The mother went to the shops and when she returned home, her baby was not there,” said Ndlovu.
The matter became a priority case for the detective unit at Durban Central police who investigated the kidnapping.
The police made headway on Sunday, afternoon when crime prevention members got a tip off that a suspicious woman was walking with the child, around the same age, in the Mansele area.
Police went to the area where they found the baby with the suspect, an 18-year-old woman, who was arrested and detained at the station.
“The baby was unharmed and was reunited with her biological mother at the station. The suspect is expected to appear in court shortly where she will be facing a charge of kidnapping,” added Ndlovu.
Meanwhile Berea police have issued a warning to all pre-schools in the area to be aware of an Indian couple who are visiting pre-schools in the Berea area posing as interested parents.
Lieutenant PN Naidoo, spokesman for Berea police said they were alerted on Friday afternoon when a pre-school in the area reported a theft after the couple had left the school.
“I realised they could be working in other areas as well as I had heard of a similar case in Mayville on Wednesday. The modus operandi used by the couple is that one distracts staff while the other tries to steal cash and cell phones from staff members,” he said.
Two cellphones and R300 in cash were taken from staff members.
“Pre-schools must be aware when new parents come through to look at their schools. In both cases there was a similar description of the young couple, they are Indian and between 25 to 30 years old. The man had a beard and they were both well dressed with a good car,” he warned.
