A Johannesburg woman accused of reporting a hoax hijacking was granted bail of R3 000 by the Booysens Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Mapitso Lutricia Mekhoe was arrested after claiming robbers took her daughter when they hijacked her Toyota bakkie on Sunday.
Police spokesperson Captain Cheryl Engelbrecht said over 30 police officers were deployed in the search. After hours of searching, the ”missing” child, Lebohang, was found at her grandparents’ home in Dobsonville, Soweto.
Engelbrecht said the woman failed to produce vehicle papers or a driver’s licence. She was arrested and charged with perjury and defeating the ends of justice.
State prosecutor Joyce Mhlalusi requested the matter be postponed for further investigation and verification of the accused’s physical address.
The magistrate granted Mekhoe R3 000 bail and postponed the case to September 22.
Mekhoe, dressed in an orange top and pink trousers, blocked her face from cameras as she left the courtroom.
Her mother Esther, refused to talk to reporters. ”You want my name to be in the newspapers?” she said as she crossed the road to catch a taxi. – Sapa