Kidnapped baby rescued, suspect in court

Brits – A 53-year old woman accused of kidnapping a six-week-old baby appeared before the Brits Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 5 August.

The suspect, Joyce Seobisa, will make another court appearance on Wednesday 28 October after the case was postponed. The baby was allegedly kidnapped from her mother, Suzan Kutumela, on Monday 20 July at Shoprite Centre in Brits.

Kutumela left the baby with Seobisa and went inside the centre to buy food. Kutumela could not locate Seobisa upon her return and reported the matter to the police. Seobisa was arrested by the Brits Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit on Tuesday 4 August. This was after the father of the baby was alerted to the whereabouts by an anonymous caller.

“He immediately alerted the police who acted swiftly and made a follow-up on the information. On arrival at a residence in Oukasie outside Brits, the police found the baby and called the parents for identification,” police spokesperson Maria Nkabinde said.