Baby kidnap case adjourned to July 28

THE clock is ticking for the State to complete its investigations into a Durban woman and her lover, who stand accused of staging a 1-month-old baby’s kidnapping from the city centre in March.

The two came before magistrate Mahomed Motala in the Durban Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

The woman wore what has now become a signature shawl draped over her face, and the man wore a red T-shirt.

During their brief appearance, magistrate Motala announced that the State had until the end of July to finalise its case against the duo.

The State had requested a four-week adjournment and asked that it not be marked final, saying that two police statements were still outstanding. However, the woman’s lawyer, Mfanafuthi Biyela, as well as the man’s lawyer, Andile Dakela, had both said they would rather adjourn the matter for a slightly longer period and have it marked final.

Magistrate Motala agreed this would be better.

“It is time this high-profile case met some closure,” he said. It was adjourned to July 28. The infant at the heart of the case was reported as kidnapped by her mother after a “hijacking” in Greyville early in March.

News quickly spread and a search for the baby ensued.

Her mother and her mother’s husband both made public appeals for her safe return. She was found three days later.

Her mother and the man now face charges of fraud and defeating the ends of justice.