The Bellville Magistrates’ Court in Cape Town has heard that a 37-year-old woman, accused of kidnapping a nine-day-old baby from Middestad Mall, may have previously targeted a 15-year-old girl.
This was revealed by Investigating Officer (IO), Seargeant Dawid Fortuin who was called as a first witness during the bail application in court today.
The woman was arrested in Mitchells Plain and the baby has since been reunited with his mother.
The accused faces charges of kidnapping and defeating the administration of justice.
Fortuin, who outlined a detailed timeline based on the baby’s mother’s accounts of events, revealed that before the kidnapping of the nine-day-old infant, the accused had approached a 15-year-old girl from Rocklands, offering to help her through her pregnancy.
She allegedly visited the teenager’s home, provided her with promises of support, and even offered help to register the child after birth.
Fortuin says this communication was maintained through a cellphone number later allegedly linked to the accused.
It is believed that the 37-year-old woman changed her identity at least three times, pretending to represent a non-profit organisation that takes care of young single mothers.
Fortuin has told the court that the accused formed a close bond with the mother in the months leading up to the alleged incident, including spending time together socially.
On the day of the baby’s disappearance, the mother reportedly fell ill and briefly left the infant in the care of someone linked to the accused.
Fortuin testified that this reflects a calculated pattern of grooming young, vulnerable girls under the pretext of support.
The case has been postponed to July 17 for further investigation which includes DNA testing, cellphone data analysis, and expert witness statements.
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