A three-year-old missing East London girl was reunited with her family in a sombre occasion held at the police headquarters in Zwelitsha.
The event was attended by Deputy Police Minister Maggie Sotyu‚ provincial police commissioner Lieut-Gen Celiwe Binta‚ provincial head of the Hawks Brig Kholekile Galawe‚ Safety and Liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana and social development MEC Nancy Sihlwayi.
The girl‚ Perfect Gift Msesiwe of Mdantsane NU6‚ was allegedly kidnapped by her nanny on August 3 who then demanded that her parents pay a ransom of R500‚000 for the child’s safe return.
It is alleged the woman‚ 32‚ believed to be from Mozambique‚ was hired from a group of women looking for employment on Amalinda Main Road.
Two weeks into her job she allegedly disappeared with the girl.
A team of specialised units from human trafficking and organised crime units‚ as well as the Department of Home Affairs and International Police (Interpol) were called in to assist with the investigation.
National Hawks spokesman Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi told the Daily Dispatch this week that after a lengthy investigation the child was found on Monday in a village near Maputo‚ Mozambique.
He said the nanny was arrested in Johannesburg on Friday — her two relatives in Maputo were arrested for harbouring a stolen child.
“The nanny is due to appear in the Mdantsane Magistrate Court next Tuesday where she will face charges of extortion‚ kidnapping and human trafficking‚” Mulaudzi said.
The deputy minister of police said yesterday in a press briefing the family had endured a stressful four weeks.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the child was in Gauteng and later revealed that she was in Mozambique. Police followed leads and in the process it was found that perpetrators were looking for money‚ a ransom of R500‚000.”
She said investigators worked day and night until the child was recovered in Mozambique and safely brought home.
“At this stage we are unable to release all the details regarding the circumstances surrounding this incident as the matter is still under investigation‚” Sotyu said.
“We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all role players including community members who contributed to the breakthrough we are celebrating today.”
The girl was spoiled with gifts and toys from police much to the delight of her parents.
The girl’s mother‚ Zolelwa Msesiwe‚ said she had been praying for the past four weeks for the safe return of her second born.
“I knew that God would not let me down. I am very happy to see my child again.”
Missing East London girl reunited with her family
A three-year-old missing East London girl was reunited with her family in a sombre occasion held at the police headquarters in Zwelitsha.
The event was attended by Deputy Police Minister Maggie Sotyu‚ provincial police commissioner Lieut-Gen Celiwe Binta‚ provincial head of the Hawks Brig Kholekile Galawe‚ Safety and Liaison MEC Weziwe Tikana and social development MEC Nancy Sihlwayi.
The girl‚ Perfect Gift Msesiwe of Mdantsane NU6‚ was allegedly kidnapped by her nanny on August 3 who then demanded that her parents pay a ransom of R500‚000 for the child’s safe return.
It is alleged the woman‚ 32‚ believed to be from Mozambique‚ was hired from a group of women looking for employment on Amalinda Main Road.
Two weeks into her job she allegedly disappeared with the girl.
A team of specialised units from human trafficking and organised crime units‚ as well as the Department of Home Affairs and International Police (Interpol) were called in to assist with the investigation.
National Hawks spokesman Brig Hangwani Mulaudzi told the Daily Dispatch this week that after a lengthy investigation the child was found on Monday in a village near Maputo‚ Mozambique.
He said the nanny was arrested in Johannesburg on Friday — her two relatives in Maputo were arrested for harbouring a stolen child.
“The nanny is due to appear in the Mdantsane Magistrate Court next Tuesday where she will face charges of extortion‚ kidnapping and human trafficking‚” Mulaudzi said.
The deputy minister of police said yesterday in a press briefing the family had endured a stressful four weeks.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the child was in Gauteng and later revealed that she was in Mozambique. Police followed leads and in the process it was found that perpetrators were looking for money‚ a ransom of R500‚000.”
She said investigators worked day and night until the child was recovered in Mozambique and safely brought home.
“At this stage we are unable to release all the details regarding the circumstances surrounding this incident as the matter is still under investigation‚” Sotyu said.
“We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to all role players including community members who contributed to the breakthrough we are celebrating today.”
The girl was spoiled with gifts and toys from police much to the delight of her parents.
The girl’s mother‚ Zolelwa Msesiwe‚ said she had been praying for the past four weeks for the safe return of her second born.
“I knew that God would not let me down. I am very happy to see my child again.”
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