The love for #BabySiwaphiwe united KZN
It was an emotional weekend for KZN as the search for little one month Siwaphiwe captured the love and attention of people around the country. Jane relays her account as it happened.
Listen to Jane as she chats to the place of safety that has #BabySiwaphiwe or read more below:
When Dineo walked into the studio on Friday afternoon and said a car had been hijacked with a 4-week-old baby in the backseat my mind blurred, in that moment I lost all ability to process, digest and articulate. I asked her to sit down across from me and turned her microphone on. I heard the words come out of her mouth again as my head spun imagining how desperate that mother must be feeling. Can you imagine anything more distressing then seeing your most precious child being driven into the unknown with a hijacker? I felt sick to my stomach.
The next few hours were spent reading out the car registration and description and urging KZN to please not take matters into their own hands should they see the car. The phone calls I was receiving from listeners were fueled by anger, despair and utter rage.
On the way home worried, confused and anxious I heard Phat Joe announce the car had been found (yes thank goodness) however the baby was not there. I pulled my car onto the side of the road and sobbed quietly at first, then between loud swear words screamed “why did you take the baby”. I drove to collect my kids from school glued to the radio.
Read: Phat Joe pleads with hijackers to return the baby
The whole weekend I was totally consumed and distracted by the little girl's safety and well being. I felt so helpless. Every time one of my kids come near me I would pull them close and tell them how much I loved them, this happens often regardless this time with a silent undercurrent of desperation.
I was still awake at 4:30am as I lived online waiting for good news. Questions like: Where could she be, Is she warm, Is she being fed, has she had her nappy changed, Why take the baby seat, and more depressing thoughts as far as what she may be used for. My mind boggled. Saturday there was no news. If I was feeling so gutted and panicked, can you imagine how her mother must be feeling? How can a car and baby disappear into thin air?
Why take the baby?
Why take the baby?
Why take the baby?
It just didn’t add up. If it was a botched hijacking then surely you would leave the baby and go on the run with her? Anyone that has had a 4 week old baby knows what hard work they are.
Saturday night arrived and there was a chill in the air. Was she warm? This poor little helpless being. My heart ached.
On Sunday morning my husband arrived next to our bed with coffee in hand and the most joyous message ever! Baby Siwaphiwe had been found. The tears welled and as I checked my phone, a message from Dineo at 4:41am read ‘The baby has been found Janey!!!! Suspect arrested’. The relief, the joy!
She was safe, she was home. She would be back with her mom where she was meant to be. The news that followed knocked the wind out my lungs. What do you mean the mom was one of the suspects arrested? What!? Once again I had a first class ticket on the emotional rollercoaster headed for who knows where.
Read: Police provide more details on the arrest of three people in #BabySiwaphiwe case
Anger, confusion, sadness, and relief filled me. All at once.
I was so relieved to hear that the baby had been cared for and was in a good state when found. She was checked out by a district surgeon and was in good health. I went to bed last night peacefully knowing she is in safe, caring and kind hands. As for her 8 year old brother where was he? He must be so confused and scared.
There are many stories doing the rounds on social media as to what the intent was here and I am as confused as you are. There is however one thing that I am sure of. This little soul. without even knowing it, united not only KZN but the country as a whole as the hashtag #HelpFindDurbanBaby trended far and wide. The community rallied together and saw everyday people forming in groups to search for her, slept in their cars and offered money anonymously for any leads.
The messages of hope, the prayer groups and the love was amazing. The love for an unknown person knitted us together. We took this personally and made it our mission to be a part of her safe return if even by sending out a kind thought we were all striving for the same goal, the safe return of this tiny helpless child.
LISTEN: Durban residents pray for baby Siwaphiwe's safe return
I swell with pride that I belong to such a warm and caring KZN community, once again showing what you are made of. Later today during my show, I will be chatting to the safe house that has little Siwaphiwe to find out how she is doing and what the road ahead looks like for her.
Also a big thank you to SAPS for their amazing work and commitment to this case.
Once again thank you for your compassion, care and kindness, love always
Jane x