Durban - A 50-year-old woman accused of snatching a newborn baby in November last year, has been granted bail.
KwaZulu-Natal SAPS spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala, said the woman was traced and arrested in the uMgababa area yesterday.
"She appeared in the Durban Magistrate’s Court today. She was granted bail of R5000 and the matter was remanded to 1 March 2022. The baby was reunited with his mother," Gwala said.
Gwala said on 22 November 2021, a mother left the King Edward Hospital with her newborn baby boy.
"While she was waiting for a bus, she was approached by an unknown woman who befriended her. The woman offered to buy groceries for the child after she learned that the mother was unemployed. The complainant and the woman boarded a taxi to Dr. Pixeley Kaseme Street in Durban in order for the woman to purchase some clothes for the infant," Gwala said.
She said they went to a shop at which point the unknown woman gave the complainant cash to purchase something for the baby.
The woman informed the baby’s mother to leave the baby with her whilst she proceeded to purchase the required items.
"The complainant left her baby with the woman, who stood outside the shop. After a few minutes the mother of the child returned from the shop and discovered that the woman had disappeared with the infant," Gwala said.
Police have also urged women to be careful with their babies and not to leave their babies with people they have just met.
IOL