Botched kidnapping of toddler is a warning to parents
She continued to search the aisles of the supermarket but neither her son nor the old woman were to be found.
A mother’s worst nightmare recently unfolded in front of her, when her three-year-old son was snatched from her, on what would have been any normal day.
Her account of the event serves as a caution to parents, guardians and young people alike.
The mother and son were at a local clinic when they were befriended by a seemingly sweet and elderly woman.
The old woman then asked the mother where she was going after the clinic, and the mother advised that she was walking to a supermarket in town.
She further asked if she could walk with the mother and son, as she was going to the same supermarket and was afraid of the young “isigebengus” who may rob her.
While walking to the supermarket, the woman was speaking to someone on the phone in isiZulu and began describing in detail what the mother and son were wearing as well as where they were walking to.
At this point the mother thought it was strange for the woman to describe her and her son in such great detail, but shrugged it off as it seemed all the old woman wanted was protection and help.
They proceeded to the supermarket where the mother drew cash from an ATM.
A security guard saw them enter.
The old woman walked around with the mother, and her son was seated in the trolley.
“I am feeling very ill,” were the words uttered to the mother by the old woman before she collapsed onto the supermarket floor.
The mother began shouting for help and knelt down to help her as she started convulsing, frothing and her eyes rolled back.
Within the next two minutes, the mother’s trolley, her son and her bag were gone.
She immediately jumped up and frantically screamed for help explaining that her son was taken, sadly nobody was able to assist.
She continued to search the aisles of the supermarket but neither her son nor the old woman were to be found.
The distraught mother then questioned the security guard who said, “The woman that you came in with was with another woman and a man. They walked out with your son.”
It seemed impossible as to how the old woman who was lying on the floor had managed to leave so quickly with the mother’s child.
She immediately began running in the direction that the security guard pointed her in.
Still with no further assistance, she found her son further down the street, screaming.
The assumption is that the people who snatched him decided to abandon him as his screaming would have drawn too much attention to them.
The family shudders at the thought of what could have happened to the little boy, had they gotten away with him.
The mother herself is still traumatised and suffers debilitating nightmares.
Having had most of her belongings such as bank cards and phone stolen, what was most important was that she got her precious son back safely.
This hair-raising incident is a reminder to the public to always remain wary, and to be careful about who you try to assist.
Their intentions may not always be as innocent as yours.
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