Parents of a baby stolen when she was just five days old in Embalenhle, Mpumalanga, say they slept peacefully on Wednesday – for the first time in 13 days – after they were reunited with their baby, and her alleged abductor arrested.
Baby Tshepiso Siphosethu Semela was stolen after her mother Goodness Mdakane, 19, was approached by a woman pretending to be a social worker who told her she was helping unemployed young people at a taxi rank in the area on October 28.
“I’m relieved and her mother is also relieved. We are very happy and in fact, last night we slept peacefully. Remember I’m doing grade 12 [and] writing exams. It was hard to focus, knowing that your child has been stolen. It was worse for my girlfriend who is doing grade 11 and I’m happy that she’s going to write her examination on Friday having nothing to worry about,” said the baby’s father Mpho Semela, 19.
“As we speak, the mother’s family has taken the child to the clinic to check her health. We are happy that the woman who stole her has been arrested. We actually found her in her house with the child.”
Provincial police spokesperson Brig Selvy Mohlala confirmed the arrest.
“A 38-year-old woman was arrested yesterday, 10 November 2021 for the alleged kidnapping of a newborn baby. According to the police report, on 28 October 2021, the suspect introduced herself to the baby’s mother at the local taxi rank, claiming to be a social worker who helps unemployed young mothers.
“She (the suspect) then sent the baby’s mother to go and buy her food at a shop nearby and offered to hold the baby. When the mother returned from the shop, she found that the suspect had disappeared with her baby,” said Mohlala.
“The mother reported the matter to the police and an investigation was launched. We had a breakthrough on Wednesday, which led us to the house in Embalenhle and the suspect was swiftly arrested.”
He said the woman would appear in the Embalenhle magistrate’s court soon.
Mohlala warned mothers not to leave their children in the care of strangers.
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