TWO women who are Zimbabwean nationals have been arrested for stealing a four-month-old baby and briefly appeared in the Kriel Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 3 January.
But the same court had the matter postponed to 10 January for a formal bail application.
Zimbabwean nationals Grace Gumbo (26) and Mercy Tsoko (28) were not asked to plead guilty yet when appeared for the second time today.
Both women are facing charges of child abduction and contravening the Immigration Act of South Africa.
They impersonated care givers and promised to donate food for the baby when approached the child's mom at her residential place in Thubelihle outside Middelburg, Mpumalanga, on Thursday, 28 December.
They then told the mom they needed to take her child to the clinic for immunisations before they could donate her food. But they never returned.
Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said their appearance is in connection with a case in which it was previously reported that a four-month-old baby girl was abducted at Thubelihle in Kriel on Thursday, 28 December.
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"The suspects were arrested on New Year's Day, Monday, 1 January, and it is in fact alleged that they abducted a total of three children, including the baby girl abducted on that Thursday, 28 December."
"Police got a tip-off from community members about the two women who were pretending to be caregivers that were roaming around Ogies with three babies."
"The Police in Kriel swiftly responded to the information and then managed to arrest the two female suspects and reportedly found them with three children, two baby girls as well as one baby boy," he said.
He said the two were reportedly cornered in one of the shacks in Ogies.
"It was during this period when the astute members discovered that, besides the four months old girl, there was a baby boy who is believed to be three years old, and it is suspected that the child was also abducted at Marble Hall in April. As if that was not enough, another baby girl believed to be eight months old was found as well during the arrest of the two. This child also is believed to have been abducted at Springs in September allegedly by the two women," he said
Mpumalanga police commissioner Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Manamela has applauded members of the public who alerted the police about the suspects.
"We appreciate the men and women in blue for their swift response which led to the rest," she said.
She urged community members to assist in locating the families of the two other children, one from Marble Hall and the other from Springs, to contact Kriel SAPS on 082 798 0723 or call the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111.
