Woman, 21, in court for baby kidnapping
Evidence was heard in court that Southernwood toddler Kamvalethu Ncwadi was abducted for money – and child abduction accused Asiphe Cetywayo, 21, was in possession of a large amount of cash just moments before she abducted the two-year-old.
This evidence was led by forensic expert and private investigator Leon Nel during the bail application of Cetywayo at the East London magistrate's court on Tuesday.
Nel said his sources had claimed Cetywayo had a large sum of money with her in a suitcase but this money was never recovered.
Nel told bail magistrate Joel Cesar that during the arrest on New Year's Day, Cetywayo confessed to the crime and said her love for children was the motive behind the kidnapping.
The expert told the court that evidence from confidential sources allegedly revealed that Cetywayo had attempted to take a young boy in Southernwood on the day of Kamvalethu’s kidnapping on December 16.
Nel said he assembled a team of sources to watch out and monitor Cetywayo's movements at taverns after he heard that she was a regular tavern hopper. He said on the day of Kamvalethu’s kidnapping and 13 days later, a “jumpy” Cetywayo was spotted drinking alone in taverns in East London, Southernwood, Mdantsane and Nxarhuni.
Nel said what worried him was the reports that she was drinking alone with no sign of Kamvalethu.
Kamvalethu went missing from the verandah of her granny's Southernwood house on December 16 2018. Nel told the court that he had been moved by the story of the missing child after spotting it on Facebook and had volunteered to help. Nel, who has 36 years’ experience as a police detective, said: “I got involved two days later, on December 18, and I spoke to the family and the police and during that time I also interviewed community members.”
Cesar postponed the bail application to Friday due to lack of time for cross-examination.
Nel claimed that during the the arrest on New Year's Day, Cetywayo tried to seduce him on condition he let go of the case. He told the court that he received a call at 11.45pm on New Year's Eve from a tavern informant in Kwelerha, who reported that Cetywayo was in front of them at that moment drinking. He said he then rallied the police and Kamvalethu’s father, Paul Mayekiso, to join him on a trip to the tavern.
Nel said Cetywayo took him and the police to an RDP house outside Gonubie, where Kamvalethu was kept.
Cetywayo's lawyer NomaAfrika Wakashe tried to discredit Nel by asking if he was an expert in analysing behaviour. Nel responded by revealing he was a qualified forensic auditor, specialised in polygraphic testing and psycho-physiology.