ERMELO – According to a provincial police spokesperson, Brig Selvy Mohlala, in March 2001, a woman, aged 16 at the time, gave birth to a girl in the Ermelo Provincial Hospital.

They were both discharged and made their way home.

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“They were on their way home to Breyten, just outside Ermelo, accompanied by the mother’s sister. She went to a nearby shop for some food and drinks. The mother started experiencing some pain and dizziness, and an unknown woman offered to assist her by holding the baby. After a little while, the woman reportedly took the baby, promised to return and went off in the aunt’s direction. The aunt returned, but the woman never did,” explained Mohlala.

He said they had searched for the woman and the baby, but their attempts proved fruitless. “The incident was reported to the Ermelo police and a case of child abduction was opened. The police commenced with their search, but there was no information or breakthrough until November 29, when a team of investigators received some leads,” he said.

He said the information led them to the missing baby, now a woman.

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“We conducted forensic tests in which DNA samples were collected, and the results came back, which turned out to be a breakthrough in the case of child abduction. A 50-year-old woman was arrested and charged accordingly, as she is alleged to have been the one behind the incident 20 years ago.

“The female suspect has since appeared in the Ermelo Magistrate’s Court on November 30 and was granted R1 000 bail. Her case was postponed to January 18, 2022. Meanwhile, the young woman has been kept in a place of safety where she is receiving psychological help and will hopefully be reunited with her biological family soon,” said Mohlala. The name of the suspect is withheld for the protection of the victim’s identity