12-Day-Old Baby Mogamat Imaad Found Safe After Cape Town Kidnapping Scare

A mother’s worst nightmare ends in relief after police rescue her newborn and arrest a suspect

In a harrowing case that gripped Cape Town, baby Mogamat Imaad Shamar, just 12 days old, has been safely reunited with his mother after being kidnapped from a Bellville shopping mall on Saturday. A 37-year-old woman was arrested on Monday in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain, and is expected to appear in court this week.

How the Kidnapping Unfolded

According to police spokesperson Captain Frederick van Wyk, the baby’s mother was at a local mall when she began feeling nauseous. She briefly entrusted her newborn to a woman accompanying her while she went to the bathroom. When she returned, both the woman and her baby were gone.

What started as a moment of illness spiraled into a full-blown kidnapping investigation.

A case was quickly opened at Bellville SAPS, and within 48 hours, police launched a multi-disciplinary task force to track down the missing infant. Units from Organised Crime: Anti-Kidnapping, Crime Intelligence, and Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) worked together on the case.

On Monday, 30 June, they executed a coordinated operation on Honolulu Street in Tafelsig, where baby Mogamat Imaad was found unharmed. A 37-year-old woman was arrested at the scene and is facing charges of kidnapping.

She is expected to appear before the Bellville Magistrate’s Court this week.

A Community Holds Its Breath

In a country battling rising incidents of child kidnappings and trafficking, this case struck a raw nerve—especially in the Western Cape, where parents have become increasingly anxious over the safety of their children in public spaces.

Social media lit up with reactions ranging from relief to outrage, with hashtags like #BringBabyImaadHome and #CapeTownKidnapping trending as the news spread. Cape Town parents expressed their horror and deep concern:

“How do you hand a baby to a stranger, even for a minute?” asked one X user.
“Thank God this baby is safe. We need to be more vigilant. These predators are everywhere,” posted another.

A Broader Pattern of Abductions

Sadly, baby Mogamat Imaad’s case is not isolated.

Elsewhere in the country, the case of Kamogelo Baukudi, a 19-year-old Grade 11 learner from Martie du Plessis School, remains ongoing. Baukudi was found alive six weeks after his disappearance, in another suspected kidnapping.

A 42-year-old police officer, Nzima Adoons, and five others have been linked to Baukudi’s kidnapping and alleged extortion. However, their court case in Bloemfontein was postponed this week due to incomplete investigations tying all the suspects to the crime. The bail hearing is now scheduled for 3 July.

Commentary: Time to Prioritise Child Protection

These back-to-back cases have reignited national calls for stricter child protection policies, better surveillance at public spaces like malls, and a more visible police presence in communities vulnerable to criminal activity.

While the rescue of baby Mogamat Imaad is a moment of joy, it’s also a stark warning: child kidnappings are not rare anomalies. They are becoming a chilling feature of South African life and prevention must now take centre stage.

Baby Mogamat Imaad Shamar’s safe return is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when police units work together quickly and strategically. But for many South African families, the fear remains and only systemic action will ease it.

{Source: The Citizen}

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