A woman’s mission to steal a baby at Tshilidzini Hospital was thwarted when she was arrested before she could vacate the hospital premises. The baby, Malakia Masakona Mudau, who was only five hours old, was safely returned to the loving arms of her mother the same day.

The suspect, Thabelo Portia Mulaudzi (18), from Itsani, briefly appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Monday. She was charged with kidnapping and her case was postponed to 31 August for further investigation, while she remains in custody.

It is alleged that Mulaudzi claimed that she was pregnant for some time and told her in-laws that she was going to give birth at the hospital. She then called them to tell them that she had delivered a baby girl. The family members were surprised to find her dressing a baby boy at the hospital and that is when all hell broke loose.

While holding the returned baby at her home in Mphego village, east of Thohoyandou, the shocked mother, Rennet Muanalo (27), said she could not believe that her baby was found at last.

She explained what happened at the hospital: "I felt labour pains on Thursday last week and rushed to Tshilidzini Hospital. I gave birth to a bouncing baby in the early hours of the following day. I took the child to another ward, waiting for the doctor to discharge me. I was in pain and decided to sleep before the doctor could come." Rennet said she asked her sister, Mulalo, who was also in the ward, to look after the child while she was asleep. "My sister had already given birth and we were in the same ward. I had no doubt that my baby would be safe because I never suspected anything."

She said she felt like someone who was dreaming when Mulalo told her to wake up because the baby was no longer there. "She told me the child was not there, but I thought it had been taken by one of the nurses who frequented the ward to check the baby. She told me to be more serious and advised me to wake up. Although I was in pain, I woke up and really found that the baby was not there."

Rennet said she went from ward to ward, inquiring from the nurses if they knew anything about the whereabouts of her baby. "We then heard a huge noise in another ward and we rushed there. We were surprised to see hospital staff and police surrounding a woman who was dressing my baby. She was immediately arrested and the baby was returned to me. I can’t believe this has happened to me. I can’t imagine how I would feel if my baby was never found."

Asked what her attitude was towards the woman who had snatched her baby, Rennet said: "The matter is now in the hands of the court and I believe that the law will take its course. This woman deserves a long jail sentence to serve as an example that it is bad to steal someone’s baby. I have carried the baby for nine months but she only came and snatch him in a few seconds."

The returned baby’s father, Ntsieni Masakona (36), said the incident has seriously affected his life. "I received a call from my wife shortly after she gave birth. I was very happy when she told me that she had a baby boy. Minutes later, she called and said the child had been stolen. I nearly fainted because I never thought that would ever happen to me. I was really relieved when I later got the information that the child had been found."