Baby found alive after being taken from Bellville mall
A 9-day-old infant was allegedly kidnapped by a woman posing as a volunteer for the Zoe Project.
Picture: Pexels.com
John Maytham (in for Lester Kiewit on CapeTalk) speaks with Tracey Aitken, the founder of the Zoe Project.
Listen below:
A mother went out for lunch with her baby in Bellville.
While at lunch, the mother fell ill and left her baby in the care of another woman who was with her, while she quickly went to the bathroom.
The woman then kidnapped the baby. The infant was later found alive in Tafelsig, and the 37-year-old alleged kidnapper was taken into police custody.
To trick the mother into trusting her, it is believed that the woman claimed to be a member of the Zoe Project, an NGO which helps new moms. She befriended the mother and visited her at her home.
“This obviously shook us a lot.”
- Tracey Aitken, the founder of the Zoe Project
Aitken says that legitimate Zoe Project volunteers do not visit homes and offer all their services at clinics under supervision.
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She adds that volunteers will have scrubs with their names on and identification bags.
Aitken says this woman does not appear to be a part of a syndicate, but rather an individual who wanted a baby.
She had reportedly faked a pregnancy for some time before taking the baby boy.
Scroll up to the audio player for more.