Two infants were snatched—but swiftly rescued—from Alexandra Community Health Centre and Winnie Mandela Clinic. The Gauteng Health Department warns parents to keep newborns within sight at all times as kidnappings in the province surge.
A Province on Edge
Baby Abductions: Mid-winter should bring knitted blankets and warm lullabies, not police sirens. Yet Gauteng parents awoke this week to chilling news: two newborns vanished from public clinics only weeks apart—and only vigilance and CCTV prevented heartbreak.
Case File #1 – Alexandra Community Health Centre (12 May 2025)
A one-month-old infant disappeared from the Paediatric Out-patient Department after the mother, exhausted and trusting, asked a friendly stranger to “keep an eye for a minute.” Security footage captured the woman exiting with the baby. SAPS and clinic guards formed a rapid relay, locating the child and arresting the suspect within hours.
Case File #2 – Winnie Mandela Clinic, Kaalfontein (23 June 2025)
Lightning struck again. A three-day-old was left on a changing table while the mother stepped into a stall; a helpful face offered to assist—then vanished. Swift circulation of CCTV stills across police networks, plus the public’s sharp eyes, reunited baby and parents and placed a 21-year-old woman in custody.
The Department Responds
Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko commended staff and law enforcement for their “maximum-security ballet,” but her tone sharpened:
“We offer safe, caring environments, but no guardian should hand a child to a stranger—no matter how helpful they seem.”
The department is reviewing visitor protocols, reinforcing ID-check policies, and adding additional panic-button stations in maternity wings.
Kidnapping in Context
Kidnappings nationwide have spiked 264 % in the past decade, with Gauteng accounting for more than half of all reported cases. In 2022 – 23 alone, SAPS logged over 15 000 kidnappings—averaging 41 per day. While infants represent a small fraction, clinics are “soft targets” where exhausted parents crave assistance.
Safety Playbook for Parents & Guardians
| Risk Moment | What to Do | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Registration queues | Keep baby strapped to you in a sling; decline offers to “hold” | Abductors exploit paperwork distractions |
| Restroom breaks | Request a nurse escort or use mother-and-baby stalls | Bathrooms are CCTV blind spots |
| Waiting rooms | Sit near security cameras and busy desks | Visibility is a deterrent |
| Post-natal check-ups | Bring a trusted relative/friend | Two sets of eyes halve the risk |
Remember: If you must step away, hand the child only to uniformed staff with visible name badges, and note their title.
What’s Next?
- Policy update: All Gauteng clinics will trial biometric exit controls for paediatric wards by September 2025.
- Community drive: The province launches #EyesOnEveryInfant—a campaign training volunteers in patient-area patrols.
- Legislative angle: A draft bill proposes stiffer minimum sentences (15 years) for abducting a child under two.
Final Word
A newborn’s first melody should be a lullaby, not the crackle of police radios. The rescue of both infants is a victory—but also a siren, urging every parent, nurse, and passer-by to be that vigilant heartbeat standing between innocence and danger. Let’s keep those little heartbeats right where they belong: in their parents’ arms.
Also read: 21-Year-Old Woman Arrested for Kidnapping Newborn at Tembisa Clinic
