By Anita Dangazele
- Police arrested two women after spotting them leaving the hospital with the missing babies in their arms.
- The suspects, aged 25 and 26, will appear in the New Brighton Magistrates’ court during the week.
Two baby boys were stolen from the neonatal ward at Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha, and one of the suspects had a baby of her own in the same ward.
Police now say both babies have been safely recovered, and two women have been arrested.
According to the families of the two young mothers, the thief posed as a friendly visitor. She sat with the mothers and told them not to feed their babies too much or they would become “too full”. The women, including a 16-year-old mother, returned to their beds.
While the woman was still sitting with them, a security guard came in and asked if they knew her. They said no, but she had arrived with another woman named Siphokazi, whose baby was also in the ward.
A family member said, “Siphokazi had apparently been away for a few days and returned on Tuesday with this woman.”
Sources inside the hospital said CCTV footage shows the woman, believed to be Siphokazi, removing the babies from their incubators and putting them into a backpack before leaving through another hospital exit.
Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg said one of the suspects was caught when a police officer exiting the hospital spotted two women carrying infants. He became suspicious and stopped them.
“After further questioning, the two infants were identified as the two babies that were stolen last night,” she said.
The arrested women are 25 and 26 years old. They will appear in the New Brighton Magistrate’s Court during the week.
Police confirmed that both babies are unharmed.
Pictured above: A screenshot of CCTV footage showing the woman who allegedly stole two babies at Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha.
Image source: Facebook
This story has been updated to reflect that the two babies were found safe and two suspects have been arrested.
