- Police are looking for a woman who snatched a newborn baby boy while his mother was having a meal.
- The unknown woman was seen getting into a VW Polo with the baby.
- The woman approached the mother after she walked out of hospital on Tuesday, greeting her by name.
Phumzile Gina walked out of hospital on Tuesday after giving birth to a baby boy, only for the infant to be snatched by a woman who had offered to give the new mother a helping hand.
Police in Jozini are now looking for the woman who disappeared with the baby while Gina was having a meal at a bus stop in the Maphanya area.
Gina, 35, said she first saw the woman talking to a nurse inside the hospital. The woman seemed to be making inquiries with the nurse, who told her she was busy with work.
The unknown woman even called Gina by her name.
"The nurse was busy with my paperwork as I was leaving the hospital on Tuesday. I saw the woman outside as I was leaving, she greeted me calling me by my name, and walked with me towards to the bus stop to catch a bus home," she told News24.
"I don't know how she knew my name because I've never met or seen her before. She said her name was Gugu Mabaso," Gina said on Saturday.
The woman, dressed in a black jacket, black skirt and brown boots started a friendly conversation with Gina, even talking about people she knew in Gina's neighbourhood.
She then told Gina that there was a stain on her skirt, and that the new mother should use the bathroom to remove it while she held the baby boy.
Waiting
"I went into the bathroom at the garage; my skirt was just fine. I came out and she was waiting for me with the baby. We then boarded a bus and got off together. I asked her to keep holding him so that I can eat, as I was very hungry. She told me we wouldn't even have to walk long because her husband would be picking us up soon. We stopped by vendors and I began to have my meal. When I looked up, she was gone."
When she asked the vendors where the woman had gone, they told her they saw her getting into a silver grey VW Polo. She then called the police, who requested that she go to the police station.
"I asked people in my neighbourhood to accompany me to people that Gugu Mabaso spoke about living in our area. They told us they do not know any Gugu Mabaso. We saw a silver grey VW Polo at one of the houses and we were told its owner has travelled to Gauteng. I just want my baby back... people are spreading rumours that I probably sold the baby. I love my baby boy, I want him back," said Gina.
Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said: "The Jozini Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit are appealing to the community to assist with information that may help them find a new born baby that was taken from the mother at the Mamlambo bus stop in Maphanya area."
Gwala requested anyone with information on the missing baby to contact investigating officer Sergeant Hadebe on 079 902 6088 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.