The Ermelo Magistrates’ Court postponed sentencing proceedings for the 52-year-old woman’s kidnapping case until July.
The accused pleaded guilty to the crime and was subsequently convicted of kidnapping of a newborn. In her plea, she admitted that her actions were wrong. In March 2001, the local hospital discharged the complainant after giving birth to the child. On her way to the local taxi rank, she and her relative came across the accused who walked with them.
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The relative went to the shop and left the complainant with the accused. Then the accused offered to assist the complainant by holding a baby after realising that she was in pain and dizzy. The accused took the baby and informed the complainant that she was going to find her relative, but disappeared.
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A family member spotted a grown-up child on social media with similar features to the victim’s family, resulting in the police being notified and the accused being arrested in November 2021. A DNA test was conducted and positively linked the child with her biological mother.
