A 32-year-old South African woman, Keneiwe Portia Shabala, has been taken into custody for allegedly selling her two-year-old son, Kutlwano.
Shabala appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court in Gauteng on Monday, November 25, 2024. She faces charges of human trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery, and providing a false police statement.
According to allegations, on November 10, 2024, Shabala sold her young son to unidentified individuals.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) revealed in a statement that, on November 13, 2024, she falsely reported to the police that her son had been abducted by unknown men in a vehicle.
Subsequent police investigations uncovered inconsistencies in her claims, leading to the conclusion that the kidnapping report was fabricated. Shabala later admitted to making up the story.
She was arrested on November 19, 2024, and has been in custody since.
The child’s whereabouts are still unknown, and police are continuing their efforts to locate him.
The case has been postponed to November 29, 2024, for a possible bail hearing. The State has stated its intention to oppose her release on bail.
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