A newborn baby was stolen from the maternity ward in Barberton Hospital in Nelspruit on Wednesday morning, the Mpumalanga health department said.
Spokesperon Mpho Gabashane said the mother handed her baby to an unidentified woman around 2am under the impression that she was a doctor.
"The woman gave her baby to the woman before she fell asleep and when she woke up around 5am she realised the baby was gone and she reported the incident to the nurse.
"According to the mother the young lady is in her early or mid twenties and she was wearing black pants with a pink jacket and a wool hat," said Gabashane.
Anyone with information on the woman and baby was urged to contact the police. - Sapa