‘Hoax kidnap’ couple in court

ALLEGED LOVERS APPEAR FOR FRAUD, DEFEATING THE ENDS OF JUSTICE ‘Inconsistencies’ in mother’s statements raise suspicions among police.

Aschoolteacher and her alleged lover made their third appearance in the Durban Magistrate’s Court yesterday in connection with a hoax hijacking, in which the woman’s one-month-old baby was falsely said to have been kidnapped.

Sibongile Mbambo, 34, and 26-year-old Phumlani Mbokazi – a self-employed metered taxi driver who has three children – appeared before Magistrate Mahomed Motala on charges of fraud and defeating the ends of justice.

The case was remanded to June 22 for further investigation and bail was extended.

Sibongile again appeared with a scarf covering her head until she faced the magistrate, as she had done during both previous appearances.

Her husband, Christopher

The small group said they attended court in support of the child.

In March, a charge of kidnapping was proffered, but the state dropped this in favour of fraud and defeating the ends of justice when the hijacking was found to be a hoax that was orchestrated by Mbambo and Mbokazi.

Baby Siwaphiwe was placed in the care of the state.

Siwaphiwe was reported abducted in a hijacking attempt in Durban on Friday, March 10. Mbambo said two men had forced her and her eight-year-old son out of her vehicle and sped off with the child.

Hundreds of police, emergency services and volunteers joined the search, which made national and international headlines.

Mbambo’s vehicle was found abandoned in Montclair, but the baby seat and baby had been taken. “Inconsistencies” in Mbambo’s statements raised suspicions among police.

The child was found unharmed at Marianhill toll plaza at midnight on Saturday, March 12. – ANA