Andrew Hlongwane and Alfred Moselakgomo

Andrew Hlongwane and Alfred Moselakgomo

A three-month-old baby girl, stolen from her minder in North West last week, has been found in good health.

Masego Maloka of Motla village outside Hammanskraal was stolen this week by a woman who pretended to be a relative.

The woman went to the home of the child's nanny, Rosie Baloyi, and told her she was the child's relative.

The child was found by a private investigator, Etienne Groenewald of CIS International, a day after Sowetan reported her disappearance.

Groenewald said the baby snatcher had apparently stolen the infant in an attempt to convince her boyfriend that she could bear children.

"We worked closely with a team from Makapanstad police station, as well as with members of the local community."

Masego's mother, Sophie Mokoka, told Sowetan she was happy to see her baby alive and unharmed.

"I couldn't eat or sleep after her disappearance and felt like part of me was taken away," she said.

"I thank God for her safe return."

The child was found in a house in Makapanstad about 25km away from her home village.

"We found her with a teenage woman who said the child's 'mother' had gone shopping. Her description matched that given by Baloyi," Groenewald said

The baby snatcher had yet to be arrested by the police, though Groenewald said the net was closing in on her.