Durban - One of the women accused of kidnapping a 6-month-old baby and selling him to a childless couple for R2 500, and an air conditioner, allegedly confessed to the police about her role after her arrest.
This was heard during Tazley Msweli’s, 48, and 41-year-old Sibongile Ndimande’s trial on Monday in the Pinetown Regional Court.
The pair have pleaded not guilty to the charges which include human trafficking, kidnapping a minor, corruption and fraud.
It is alleged the 6-month-old baby had been kidnapped in October 2014 from his biological mother and then “sold” to Catherine and Rajendra Ramlutchman, who thought the baby had been abandoned.
Msweli allegedly befriended the biological mother at St Mary’s Hospital, Mariannhill, when the baby boy was admitted and had later introduced Ndimande as a social worker to the young mother in 2014 with the promise of food and nappies for her children.
It is further alleged that the mother had to go with the women to Pinetown to meet another social worker who had these items for her.
While waiting outside a store in Pinetown for the other social worker to arrive, the mother’s 2-year-old started to cry so Msweli apparently gave the mother R10 to buy the child something to eat and drink.
Msweli allegedly told the mother to leave the baby with her while she went to the shop and when she returned five minutes later, both women and the baby had disappeared.
Police had received a tip-off in March last year, which led to the arrest of the women and the baby being returned to his biological mother.
On Monday, investigating officer, Detective-Sergeant Bongiwe Zondo, told the court she had received information that Msweli was getting medication for herself and her children at clinics.
Zondo contacted the clinics and learnt Msweli would be at the Pinetown Clinic on March 3, last year.
The baby’s mother and Warrant Officer Thokozani Dlamini had waited outside the clinic while Zondo waited inside, she testified.
She heard the staff call out Msweli’s name and watched her walk into the consultation room and followed her out the clinic later.
Seeing Msweli outside, the mother apparently pointed her out to Dlamini which led to Msweli being taken to the Pinetown police station for questioning.
“She was so co-operative. She gave us everything we wanted to know. I warned her about her arrest and explained her rights to her. We asked her about the (baby’s) whereabouts, which was our main concern,” Zondo testified.
She said Msweli told them she did not know but could get someone to help her and the police.
This led to the arrest of the Ramlutchman’s domestic worker, Thembi Cele, alleged to have arranged for the baby to be sold to the couple. Zondo said Cele led them to the couple and the baby.
“We then asked (Msweli) who was the lady with her when they initially took the child, and she took us to Inchanga to (Ndimande’s) house,” said the detective-sergeant.
Cele, released on bail, is now at large. Zondo said they had not been able to find her since she moved from her home when she was threatened by the community.
Cele’s warning statement was read out to the court where she admitted to being friends with Msweli.
She apparently met Msweli in September 2014 and told her about the Ramlutchmans.
Msweli allegedly told her she knew a social worker at Addington Hospital, Durban, who could help. It is alleged Msweli and Ndimande met Cele and the couple in the Point area where they handed over the baby and received R2 500.
The trial continues.
Daily News