Two female Zimbabwean nationals, Grace Gumbo (26) and Mercy Tsoko (28) are expected to appear again at the Kriel Magistrates’ Court for the second time today on charges of child abduction and contravention of the Immigration Act of South Africa.
Their appearance is in connection with a case where a four-months-old baby girl was abducted at Thubelihle in Kriel on Thursday, 28 December 2023.
The suspects were arrested on New Year’s Day and it is alleged that they abducted a total of three children.
Police got a tip-off from community members about the two women who were pretending to be care givers that were roaming around Ogies with three babies.
The Police in Kriel swiftly responded to the information then managed to arrest the two female suspects and reportedly found them with three children, two baby girls as well as one baby boy.
The two were reportedly cornered in a shacks in Ogies. It was during this period when the astute members discovered that, besides the four- months-old girl, there was a baby boy who is believed to be three-years- old and it is suspected that the child was also abducted at Marble Hall in April 2023. As if that was not enough, another baby girl believed to be eight-months-old was found as well during the arrest of the two. This child also is believed to have been abducted at Springs in September 2023 allegedly by the two women.Police urge members of the community to assist in locating the families of the two other children, one from Marble Hall and the other from Springs to contact Kriel SAPS on 082 798 0723 or call Crime Stop number at 08600 10111.
