Missing Kwahlelo Tiwane: Accused ‘social worker’ declares her innocence

A youth accused of posing as a social worker and kidnapping a two-month-old baby by the name of Kwahlelo Tiwane said she would prove her innocence as she did not commit the crime. 

According to EWN, the accused returned to the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Monday 27 January 2020. She allegedly abducted two-month-old Tiwane in Parow earlier this month. It’s believed she posed as a social worker before snatching the baby.

Accused says she did not kidnap baby Tiwane

The court heard that the accused was at school at the time the two-month-old baby boy was abducted. Her defence said CCTV footage would prove this.

Written testimony from a teacher also supports the claim that she was in a Xhosa class at the time of the crime.

A second suspect was arrested and appeared alongside the accused on Monday. His bail application is expected to be heard on 3 February 2020. Meanwhile, her bail bid resumes on Tuesday 28 January 2020.

‘Social worker’ abducts baby 

It is alleged that a woman posing as a social worker abducted a two-month-old baby in Parow, Cape Town on Thursday 16 January 2020. 

The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the family violence, child protection, and sexual offences (FCS) unit in the Western Cape urged the public to help locate two-month-old Tiwane. 

A mother of two-month-old twin boys was approached on Wednesday 15 January 2020 by the suspect at their home in Khayelitsha. 

“The suspect introduced herself as a social worker,” Western Cape SAPS spokesperson, colonel Andrè Traut said.

Traut said the ‘social worker’ asked for the baby’s birth certificate, his clinic card and went on to make herself copies. 

“The suspect returned the next day and accompanied the mother and the children in a taxi to Parow, where she told the mother her office was,” said Traut. 

After stopping at the alleged office, it is alleged that the suspect got out of the vehicle with one of the twins and fled with the child.

Investigation into abduction underway 

The circumstances surrounding the kidnapping of the child were being investigated. Traut said the assistance of the public would be appreciated so that the mother could be reunited with her child. 

Anyone who might have information or know the whereabouts of the baby boy is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Joy Sumsodien of the Bellville FCS on 082-522-1095 or Crime Stop on 086-00-10111.