/ 1 December 2005

Teenager arrested for taking baby from ‘best friend’

A teenage girl in KwaZulu-Natal has been arrested for stealing her friend’s two-month-old son in Ubombo near Umfolozi, police said on Thursday.

Captain Jabulani Mdletshe said the 18-year-old girl snatched the baby while visiting his mother, Simo Phethelaphi Ngobe (22)

She asked if she could take the child with her to visit another homestead.

”The child’s mother did not suspect anything since the suspect was her best friend and used to visit them regularly.”

Mdletshe said the boy’s mother became worried when her friend had not returned by midday.

She went looking for her and when she could not find her, she reported the matter to the police.

Mdletshe said community members spotted the teenager in the area on Wednesday, but she fled into the bushes when confronted. A search party later found the teenager with the baby. He was unharmed.

She was arrested and is expected to appear in the Ubombo Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. – Sapa