Cape Town - Five days after he was kidnapped two-month-old Azile Skafu, of Mbekweni near Paarl, was reunited with his mother on Tuesday afternoon.
Little Azile was allegedly taken by a woman who had befriended his mother Monica Manzi after the two women and Manzi’s boyfriend, Mzwandile Johnson, had been drinking. It was Johnson who woke up in the early hours and discovered the baby and his kidnapper missing.
Now Azile’s 35-year-old alleged kidnapper is under arrest and is expected to appear in court soon.
“Azile was found in good health at the suspect’s residence in Mbekweni, Paarl after an intensive investigation.
Crimes perpetrated against children enjoy top priority in the Western Cape and we will make every endeavour to protect children from dangerous situations,” police spokesman Andre Traut said.
Late Tuesday night Manzi and the baby were at Paarl Hospital where his blood sample was taken.
“The baby is fine, but he is just hungry.
“I don’t know when they are going to discharge us here.
“I am just grateful my baby is back in my arms,” Manzi said.
Johnson said: “The sleepless nights are over for us.
“We would wake up in the middle (of the) night and look at the door to see if he is not there.
“Azile was brought to the police station by two girls who said they were told by the woman to hold the baby while she went to fetch Azile’s medication.” .
“When we got to the police station, he was in a room and was in a good state.
“He had the same clothes on, but had a new feeding bottle,” Johnson said.
“I just don’t understand how a person could do this, while we offered her a place to stay,” he said.
Cape Times