Baby snatcher arrested

The grief-stricken Odendaalsrus mother, whose twin child was stolen at a local hospital last week, has extended an olive branch to her kidnapper who is desperate to have a child of her own after unsuccesfully triyng to have a child of her own

The heart-wrenching story of a woman whose twin child was stolen and kidnapped by a desperate and childless young woman whose several attempts to conceive have flounder last week had a happy ending when the toddler was reunited with his mother.

Anna Mokgobo (24), who was arrested for theft and kidnapping of a baby at Thusang hospital in Odendaalsrus, appeared in court on Monday and was released on bail.

Mokgobo, who confessed to have unsuccessfully tried to conceive over the past few years, was arrested last week at her home in Thabong after she kidnapped little Bokang Sekota on June 20; a few hours after his mother gave birth to him and his twin sister.

Anna Sekota, the mother whose twin baby boy was stolen out of the hospital and found five days later by the police, told The Weekly that she forgives Mokgobo despite causing her anguish and pain.

“I feel very sorry for her. My heart is overjoyed that my baby is back in my arms again. There is no room in my heart for any negative emotions; therefore I believe that I can forgive her.

“I would like to tell her that she should not stop trying (to have a baby), because having children is a joy. I hope she will be fortunate to experience it one day,” said Sekota.

Sekota was accompanied by Warrant Officers Anje Tait and Abel Ramangolo, a police reservist and informant, when they found the baby last week in Thabong.

“My heart was filled with joy; I could tell immediately that it was my baby. She said it was her baby. I wanted to wrestle him away from her, but the police told me to be calm. In the car on our way to the police station, she kept holding my baby close to her chest. I do not know how I was able to keep my cool; I couldn’t even speak or look at her.

“When we arrived at the hospital and she realised she had no proof that the baby was hers, she confessed to kidnapping him,” explained Sekota.

Sekota will be staying with her twins in hospital for a while because both babies have developed jaundice and need immediate treatment. She said she does not know what to expect from her children in the future.

“Every mother has big dream for children, but they may decide differently. My wish for them is to grow up well and healthy and have a good education.”

Mokgobo appeared in the Odendaalsrus magistrate court on Monday and confessed that she had been trying to conceive a child for over four years, without any luck.

She was released on a R1 000 bail and will appear in the Odendaalsrus magistrate court again on July 31.