POLOKWANE – Two (02) suspects involved in this matter were arrested by a high level Task Team led by the Deputy Provincial Commissioner responsible for the Crime Detection, Major General Samuel Manala during a sting joint operation conducted in Polokwane and the surrounding areas on Saturday, 13 April 2019.

During this operation, the alleged child snatcher, a 17-year-old woman and her 23-year-old boyfriend were nabbed at Ga-Mphela village outside Polokwane and the kidnapped baby was found in their possession unharmed.

The infant was positively identified by the mother. Meanwhile, the DNA tests will still be conducted to confirm the identity of the baby. This Provincial intervention follows the search operation by the Police in Mokopane for a woman who stole a six-week-old baby boy at Mokopane shopping centre on 2019-03-28.

This after a 24-year-old mother allegedly met an unknown woman in the shopping center and thereafter, walked with her while shopping. The suspect offered to hold the baby so that the mother can eat. Later at about 13h40, they went to another supermarket, the suspect still carrying the baby. Without the mother noticing, the suspect disappeared with the infant.

The two arrested suspects will appear before the Mokopane Magistrate’s Court on Monday the 15th April 2019, on a charge of child stealing.

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo Lieutenant General Nneke Ledwaba has commended this Team of Saps members who worked tirelessly around the clock to ensure that these suspects are brought to book and for safely recovering the baby.

Source: South African Police Service