A distraught young mother arrived at Ladysmith police station yesterday (October 25) after her six-week-old baby girl, Seluleko, was taken from her in the CBD. The mother had entered a shopping centre and was befriended by a young girl. The girl showed a lot of interest in her baby and they struck up a conversation.
The mother of the child was quite taken with her new friend, who quickly gained her trust, and she allowed the girl to hold the baby. The girl then convinced the mother to let her play with the baby while she completed her shopping.
By the time she got back to them, the girl and her baby were nowhere to be found.
The mother frantically searched the centre, but to no avail. She quickly made her way to the police station, where Sergeant S Fourie and Constable TT Zungu immediately sprang into action. They viewed video footage at the centre, as well as footage from the local Public Safety camera system.
After they had secured a description of the suspect, as well as the direction she had taken, the police officers interviewed people at the taxi rank and established that the suspect had boarded a taxi to Ezakheni E Section.
They rushed out to the area and once at the E-Section taxi rank, they sourced more information which led them to a house in the area. At the house, they found the 16-year-old suspect as well as the baby. The baby had been unharmed.
The mother couldn’t hold back her tears of joy at being reunited with her baby after just over three hours, thanks to the tenacity and quick response of the police officers.
The suspect is due to appear in the Ladysmith Magistrate’s Court today (October 26) on charges of child stealing.
She is a juvenile and will be dealt with in terms of the Child Justice Act.
Both the police officers would like to place on record their appreciation to the community, as well as the shopping centre and Public Safety staff who assisted them with valuable information that led to the speedy arrest. Police appeal to mothers not to be convinced by anyone to hand over their baby, no matter how friendly or trustworthy they may seem.
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