Police in Ermelo in Mpumalanga has finally managed to locate a person who was kidnapped as a baby over 20 years ago.
Police Spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala says their long-running investigation went cold until they got a sudden breakthrough last month.
He says in March of 2001, a 16-year-old teenager gave birth at the Ermelo Provincial Hospital and was discharged later on the same day.
Brigadier Mohlala says the young mother was in the company of her older sister who went into a shop nearby.
He says the teenager felt dizzy and experienced some pain when an unknown woman offered to assist by taking the baby.
The woman then offered to go into the shop to alert her sister but never returned.
A case of child abduction was opened and only last week did they get new information after all these years.
Police followed up on the lead and conducted some forensic tests where DNA samples were collected that eventually broke the case.
He says this led to the arrest of a 50-year-old woman who has since appeared in the Ermelo Magistrates Court where she was granted bail of R1 000.
The woman, whose name is being withheld to protect the victim, must be back in court on the 18th of January next year.
Brigadier Mohlala says the victim is receiving psychological support and is in a place of safety until she can be reunited with her real mother.
He urged parents to never leave their children in the hands of strangers.
