Breakthrough in 20 year Ermelo child abduction case
Police have managed to crack a child abduction case in Mpumulanga after 20 years.
Officers tracked down a young woman, who was taken from her mother's arms as a newborn baby, in Ermelo in 2001.
The police's Selvy Mohlala says the new mum, who was 16 at the time, and her sister were on their way home to Breyten from Ermelo Provincial Hospital, when they met a woman.
She offered to carry the child when the teen felt dizzy.
Her sister had gone to the shop.
"After a little while, the said woman then reportedly took the baby, promised to return and went towards the direction where the aunt headed to.
"The aunt returned but the said woman never did and after searching for the woman and the baby for a while, their attempts were futile."
Mohlala says in November, police followed up on information that a member of the public helped identify the missing woman on Facebook.
Investigators located the 20-year-old and DNA test results confirmed a match.
A 50-year-old woman was arrested and granted bail. She is due to return to court next year.
"The female suspect has since appeared in the Ermelo Magistrate's Court on 30 November 2021 and she was granted bail of R1000. Her case was postponed to 18 January 2021.
Mohlala says the young woman is doing well, and for now, is being kept in a place of safety.
"The young lady has been kept in a place of safety whilst she receives some psychological support services and will hopefully be reunited with her biological family soon. The name of the suspect is being withheld for the protection of the victim's identity.
"We believe that it will be very difficult for her just to adjust immediately from one family to another family. We hope that as time continues, she will progress better."
