Wisdom of Solomon needed to unravel Mpumalanga baby saga

A 26-year-old woman and a 16-year-old girl who were fighting over a baby boy were earlier this month arrested for human trafficking, fraud, conspiracy and attempted murder.

According to eMbalenhle police spokesperson Constable Busi Mthethwa, both women fell pregnant between November and December 2021 and allegedly decided to terminate the pregnancies by drinking an abortion concoction.

The 26-year-old succeeded with the illegal abortion, while the teenager’s attempt failed.

“Both of them then allegedly conspired to register the baby’s birth in the 26-year-old’s name,” explains Mthethwa.

“They went to the clinic in Extension 19, eMbalenhle, to open a file for prenatal visits. The biological mother registered using the older woman’s name.”

Mthethwa says the women then went to Nhlazatje in the Chief Albert Luthuli municipal area, where they hid until the 16-year-old gave birth to a boy.

“It is alleged that when they returned to eMbalenhle, everything at the Department of Home Affairs was registered in the 26-year-old woman’s name.”

According to Mthethwa, all was fine until a fight erupted between the two over the older woman’s alleged ill-treatment of the infant.

The biological mother then went to the home of the 26-year-old’s boyfriend and revealed the truth to the family.

The family took the girl to the eMbalenhle Police Station where a case of human trafficking, fraud, conspiracy and attempted murder was opened.

Both women were then arrested, and they made their first appearance in the Evander Magistrate’s Court on March 6.

The 26-year-old was released on a warning, while the teen is in a youth care centre in Hendrina because of the unavailability of a guardian in court to take her in.

The case is set to resume tomorrow.

Mthethwa adds that the baby has been taken to a place of safety.