*UPDATED* Police on look-out for stolen baby

UPDATE: The police have released a new identikit of the unknown woman who allegedly stole a one-month-old baby at Dzanani shopping complex earlier this month.

The facial identikit was redone after the mother, Ms Rudani Sivhugwani, and the grandmother, Ms Agnes Sivhugwani, went back to the police and reported that the previous facial compilation was not correct. They assisted to redo it.

While the hunt for the alleged baby thief is going on, the police has urged any members of the public with information that can help them crack the case to contact Warrant Officer Mpfuni from Mphephu police station on 0712398383 / 0825035548 or their nearest police station.

The family members of the one-month-old boy who was allegedly stolen at the Dzanani shopping centre last week are devastated and have appealed to the community to help search for the child.

Mrs Agnes Sivhugwani from Pfumbada village in Nzhelele explained to Limpopo Mirror this week how an unknown woman allegedly stole the child from her. She said the baby boy, Elias Gomba, was left in her care last Monday (2nd) when the mother, Ms Rudzani Sivhugwani (26), went to the shops to buy food with her younger sister. “We were sitting outside the grant pay-out shop when my children went to buy food. I was left with my grandchildren, Elias and Asashanduki Munyai (5),” she said.

An unknown woman, who was sitting next to them, was praising the child and remarked that the boy was very beautiful. The woman apparently even claimed that the grandmother did not know how to look after children, as the child was crying. “I’ve been staying with my grandchildren ever since they were born, but this baby was staying with his mother in Tshikikinini at Matsa village,” said Agnes.

While Agnes was waiting for her children to return, the unknown woman started complaining about pains and said she had a womb disease. She then asked Agnes to get her some fruit juice from the shops, since she could not do so herself because of the pain.

“She insisted I leave the child behind, since I was not going to spend time at the shops. I imagined the pain she might be feeling and then went to the shops,” Agnes said. She said that when she looked back after crossing the road, the woman had already vanished into thin air with the child. The shopping complex was also more crowded than usual.

Agnes said she immediately alerted the Mphephu police about the incident when her children returned from the shops. They looked everywhere, but the woman could not be found.  The police even went as far as Wylliespoort and searched every taxi from the complex but could not find anything.

Ms Rudzani appealed to the unknown woman to bring her child back. “This is agonising; we don’t even have a picture of my child,” said Ms Rudzani.

Meanwhile, the police are appealing to anyone who might have information on the whereabouts of the child or any information on the woman who took the baby, to contact the nearest police station for the information to be followed up.

“The investigating officer, warrant officer Mpfuni, can be contacted at 071 482 8671.  Information can also be provided anonymously via the crime line at 08600 10111, or people can approach their nearest police station,” said the provincial spokesperson, Col Ronel Otto. 

The unknown woman was described as Venda-speaking, tall and slender and dark in complexion. She was wearing a blue skirt and a blue long-sleeve jacket at the time of the incident.

News - Date: 18 March 2015

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