Infants safely recovered by police; two women arrested for kidnapping
Two women, aged 25 and 26, have been arrested on charges of child kidnapping and are expected to appear in the New Brighton Magistrate's Court in the Eastern Cape later this week.
Image: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
Police have confirmed the safe recovery of two infants abducted from a hospital on Tuesday.
Two women, aged 25 and 26, have been arrested on charges of child kidnapping and are expected to appear in the New Brighton Magistrate's Court in the Eastern Cape later this week.
According to police, an alert officer from the South African Police Service (SAPS) noticed two women with babies as he was exiting the hospital premises. His suspicions were aroused, and he immediately approached the pair.
"After further questioning and verification, the officer was able to confirm that the babies were indeed the two who had been reported missing the previous night," said police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg. "Their quick thinking and immediate action were critical in bringing this case to a swift resolution."
The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit took over the investigation and formally arrested the two suspects.
The Acting Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Brigadier Loyiso Ngalo, praised the work of the SAPS team: "We are grateful that the infants were found and that they can now be reunited with their mothers. The team worked tirelessly from the moment the kidnapping was reported."
Captain Janse Van Rensburg added, "This case highlights the dedication of our officers and how crucial vigilance is in protecting the most vulnerable in our society."
Police have not yet released the identities of the suspects or the infants for legal and safety reasons. The investigation is ongoing.
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