A year since 'abducted' Durban baby found
A year ago today, a newborn baby girl whose alleged kidnapping turned out to have been staged, was handed over to childcarers in Durban.
On March 12 last year, the frantic search for the then one-month-old Baby Siwaphiwe - who had been reported kidnapped from the Durban city centre two days earlier - came to an end when police found her at the Mariannhill Toll Plaza.
The entire country had rallied together in a massive search effort to try and bring her home.
But after she was found, it emerged that her mother had staged the “kidnapping” and while criminal charges were levelled against the 34-year-old woman, her daughter was placed in crisis care.
HOLAH Baby House's Kim Brown says they always wanted for the baby girl to be able go back to her home.
Baby Siwaphiwe was returned to her family in December, after spending nine months with Brown and the staff at HOLAH home.
"It's wonderful that she was able to go back to her biological family. A lot of the kids that come to us get adopted. That's what we are passionate about - adoption. It's what we really want for them," Brown said.
Brown says it was a "bitter-sweet" moment when the baby left.
"It's the best thing ever for them to go back to their biological families. So obviously - we do miss them. The day her family came to fetch her was quite emotional for all of us," she said.
Baby Siwaphiwe's mother has since pleaded guilty to fraud and defeating the ends of justice.
She is currently serving a five-year jail term in Westville Prison.