According to Sgt Harry Manaka (Corporate Communications) the woman entered the hair salon on the pretense of being a customer.

“While the salon owner was busy attending to another customer, the woman put the sleeping baby down on a sofa and asked if she could quickly run to a nearby shop, to buy baby essentials. She promised to return swiftly and said she did not want to wake the baby up,” Sgt Manaka said.

The Xhosa speaking woman left the shop, but never returned. She has not been seen around the area or the hair salon before and her identity is not known.

The department of social development was subsequently informed and the baby is now being taken care of, while the investigation and search for the female continues.

The police are appealing to anyone who may have information about the woman who had left the baby in the salon, to urgently call the investigation officers at the Springs family violence, child protection and sexual offences Unit: Det Sgt Nyaile on 081 308 7154 or Det Sgt Jacobs on 081 442 4258.