LIMPOPO – In an unexpected turn of events, the mother of a 14-month-old baby boy who claimed her child was kidnapped, was arrested shortly after the child was found dead.
Joyce Sethosa (45) now faces charges of murder and perjury before the Matlala Magistrate’s Court.
Two weeks ago it was reported that Sethosa alleged her 14-month-old baby boy was kidnapped by unknown motorists who gave her a lift from Tiberius village in Mogalakwena to Mokopane when she was hitchhiking. It was reported she claimed to have been drugged and her baby stolen as she lay unconscious.
Sethosa made a case of kidnapping at the Mokopane police station the day after the alleged incident, which was on Thursday, 12 November.
However, Matlala police spokesperson, WO Molatelo Moreane, said Sethosa’s baby boy was found dead in the bush in Matlala village on Thursday, 19 November. He said the lifeless body was already in a state of decomposition. “We received phone calls from villagers about the body of a baby in the bush.
“Sethosa was arrested by the Matlala police last Thursday after an intensive investigation linked her to the baby’s death,” Moreane said.
Sethosa appeared before court on Monday. She was granted R500 bail and is due to appear again on 12 February.
Read more:
Suspects kidnap infant (1) after giving mother lift
