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Authorities are on high alert after a baby was allegedly abducted in Somerset West on Monday.
The alleged incident occurred around lunchtime, but was only reported to Somerset West police around 22:00.
According to Sergeant Suzan Jantjies, spokesperson for Somerset West police, the six-month-old baby boy was taken around 13:00. It is believed the infant’s mother, a 22-year-old from Nomzamo, entrusted a fellow community member and mother with the care of her child before leaving for work on Monday morning. However, when she returned home from work, she was informed that the child was taken.
Police were apparently informed that the carer, the infant and her nine-year-old child had travelled to Somerset West CBD to attend to Sassa matters. She allegedly stopped by a liquor store in Victoria Street and asked an unknown woman to keep the baby and watch over her child. After purchasing what was needed and exiting the store, she realised the woman and the children were missing.
A case of abduction was opened and is being investigated by the police’s Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit. Police obtained security footage which shows the alleged abductor getting into a taxi and making off with the children. The older child was apparently dropped off close to her home and safely returned. However, the baby has still not been found.
According to a spokesperson, FCS police members prioritised investigations immediately after the case was reported late last night and descended on the local township, where they made contact with the visibly “traumatised” parent and obtained statements until the early hours of Tuesday morning – all in hopes of locating the child and the alleged suspect.
Authorities are searching for what is believed to be a foreign national woman with braids, speaking isiZulu.
Anyone with information which could aid the investigation and search, is urged to call Captain Trevor Nash of FCS on 082 301 8910.
