A George family is still in shock following what they believe is a foiled abduction attempt of their three-year-old daughter. A man who allegedly worked as a security guard at the store where it happened, has since appeared in court.

The incident happened inside New Harvest retail store at the Eden Meander Lifestyle Centre in George, on Sunday May 15. CCTV video footage shows a man picking up the little girl and walking off with her.

The toddler’s brother (6) sees it happening and alerts his mother who was scanning the content of a dairy shelf at the time. The boy allegedly shouts to his mother that a man took his sister, pointing to a set of PVC strip curtains that leads to a storeroom.

The footage shows how the mother races in the direction in which the man and her daughter had disappeared.

She returns about 15 seconds later with her crying daughter in her arms.

‘I like children’

The mother told George Herald that shortly after retrieving her daughter from the man, he came to her while she was holding and calming her daughter. He allegedly apologised saying, ‘I’m sorry. I like children. I wanted to play with her…’.

The conversation happened off-camera.

The mother claims the same man also interacted with her daughter and tried to take her teddy bear when they entered the shop at about 11:00 that morning.

She says that store management was notified of the incident and, after reviewing the video footage, the man was identified as Mvuyisi Zweni, a 33-year-old security guard employed at the business.

New Harvest owner, Basili Apostolellis, declined to comment as a ‘legal process’” is underway. Rumors that the man is no longer working at the store could not be confirmed.

Southern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Christopher Spies says the case is still under investigation.

The family’s legal representative, Donald Curtis of A Chimes van Wyk Inc, says he has sent a formal demand on behalf of his client on May 23.

“We have received a reply from the insurer of business that they are investigating, but nothing further to date.”

Two police officers attended the scene shortly after the alleged abduction attempt. According to the mother, they said there was no case to be made against the man. She and her husband later again approached authorities, and a case was opened.

Child safety is a priority

With Child Protection Week underway, the police say that the safety of children remains one of the key priorities of the police.

“Specialised detectives located at the George Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit (FCS) were assigned to this investigation,” Spies says.

“Investigation into this matter is ongoing.”

The police will also investigate other concerns raised by the newspaper about the conduct of the police on the scene, where the suspect is from, and whether the suspect has a criminal record.

Spies says the investigation led to arrest of Zweni. He was released on R500 bail in the George Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday May 25. His next court appearance is on July 4.

Be vigilant

The parents and the two children involved in the incident have been left traumatised. They are currently receiving therapy.

The mother praises the members of the George Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit for their conduct and support.

She warns parents to be extremely vigilant.

“Something terrible can happen in the blink of an eye. My whole world came to a standstill when I saw my daughter wasn’t there. My advice to parents whose child has disappeared, is to start shouting out your child’s name, age, hair colour and clothing to mobilise everyone around you to start looking for him or her.

“Don’t be shy. If it’s a false alarm, all is OK. If not, the possible outcome is too horrific to contemplate should you not find your child within seconds like I did.”