Police condemn Siwaphiwe’s ‘fake’ kidnapping
IT IS disappointing when people take advantage of their fellow South Africans’ trust and belief in humanity and false claims of crime must be condemned, acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Khomotso Phahlane said, referring to the abduction of little Siwaphiwe Mbambo.
The police supported by law enforcement officers and scores of concerned community members spent well over 24 hours searching for baby Siwaphiwe, who was reportedly snatched during a carjacking in Durban on Friday, Phahlane’s spokesperson Sally de Beer said.
The baby’s mother reported to police that her Toyota Yaris had been hijacked with her one-month-old baby on the back seat when two men drove off in her car.
The car was later found abandoned in Montclair with the baby and the nappy bag missing, she said. “The police deployed all the resources necessary to conduct a search for the missing child, joined by law enforcement officers, community members, and organisations. The search was intensified and further interviews were conducted with persons of interest. Too many inconsistencies emerged during the interviews, especially in terms of the initial reporting to the police of how the incident developed. Information generated from the interviews became critical in the setting up of a roadblock in Mariannhill (in Durban) in the early hours of (yesterday) morning.
“A car was stopped by the police wherein a man, a woman and the baby in question (were) found. The baby has been placed under the care of social development (officials). Three people, including the 34-yearold biological mother of the baby, another woman and a man have been arrested.
“Members of the SAPS and all role players involved were commended for ensuring the safe return of baby Siwaphiwe Mbombo and the arrest of the perpetrators of serious crimes of this nature.”
Phahlane said: “We, as the police, are extremely grateful that this innocent baby has been rescued from a dubious situation, to say the least.” – ANA