Sne Masuku

Sne Masuku

A 16-year-old girl from Nkandla is wanted for stealing a six-month-old baby.

The girl disappeared with baby Asanda after offering to help feed her while the mother, Thulisile Nyathi, was queueing at social welfare offices in Nkandla last Thursday.

Now the distraught Nyathi, 18, is counting on the police to find her baby.

Sowetan yesterday spoke to the missing child's grandmother, who said they suspected that the incident was planned because the girl who stole her granddaughter had come to her home a day before.

The grandmother claimed the girl was also friends with Asanda's father's other girlfriend, who also stayed in the area.

But the other girlfriend has denied any knowledge of Asanda's disappearance.

The grandmother said: "I suspect that this whole thing was planned to hurt my daughter.

"Her relationship with the baby's father has gone sour since the new girlfriend came into the picture."

Yesterday, she continued with the search for the baby. At the time of going to press, she was on her way to Nquthu, where the girl's boyfriend stayed.

Inspector Thulani Mshengu said they could not find baby Asanda and the teenager after the weekend search.

"We're following all leads, and hopefully the baby will be found soon."

Nkandla police are asking anyone with knowledge of the whereabouts of the suspect and the child to contact Inspector Mshengu at 082-751-7664 or Crime Stop on 08600-10111.