QUICK police work stopped the sale of a child with albinism in eManguzi over the weekend.
This after the Zululand Observer passed on a tip-off received from a community member about a woman who was allegedly arranging to sell the child to a sangoma for R100 000.
The information emerged while police were investigating the case of the missing four-year-old boy Maneliswa Ntombela, who disappeared from uMkhobose in eSikhaleni two weeks ago.
According to Empangeni Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit (FSC), who were heading the search, they arrested a 28-year-old suspect and charged her with human trafficking.
However, police also learned it was not the missing uMkhobose boy.
‘The boy we found was 12 years old, and also has albinism but he was not who we were looking for,’ said Colonel Makhosi Ncube.
The suspect appeared at Ubombo Magistrate’s Court on Monday morning, and due for bail application on Tuesday, 12 July.
Information
‘We questioned the suspect about the disappearance of the Maneliswa Ntombela but she did not have any information on that case.
‘The search for him is ongoing and we plead with the community to come forward with any information which might lead to his whereabouts,’ said Ncube.
Maneliswa (4) was reportedly abducted by unknown men travelling in a silver double-cab bakkie two weeks ago.
The young lad was apparently playing with his cousin outside a church service tent next to KwaMpanza rental cottages at 7pm when the incident occurred.
It is alleged his kidnappers aimed to use his body for muti.
Last week his grandmother, Margaret Ndaba, told the Zululand Observer a spiritual healer had revealed the whereabouts of a dungeon where the boy was being kept hostage, but police have not yet been able to locate his whereabouts.
As days pass, his distraught family is now worried whether they will ever see him alive.
‘I hope nothing has happened to him and that he is safe,’ said his mother, 22-year-old Hloniphile Ntombela.
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