A shocking case has emerged from Melmoth in KwaZulu-Natal, where a 26-year-old woman is facing perjury charges after fabricating a story about her three-month-old baby being kidnapped. Investigations have since revealed that the baby never existed, leaving both police and the community stunned.
False Kidnapping Report Sparks Police Search
On September 13, the woman reported that three men had abducted her infant at KwaMagwaza. Her claim immediately prompted an urgent and large-scale search effort. KwaZulu-Natal SAPS spokesperson, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, explained that multiple police units were mobilized to locate the missing child. “Police unleashed a search team comprising different role players to search for the child, and after several hours of the extensive search, it came to light that the woman had lied about the kidnapping and that she had never given birth to a baby,” Netshiunda confirmed.
The discovery not only brought the search to a halt but also raised serious concerns about the misuse of police resources.
Deception Within Families
Further investigations revealed the extent of the woman’s deception. According to police, she misled her boyfriend and his family into believing she was pregnant and had delivered a child. Meanwhile, she told her own relatives that she had suffered a miscarriage. This web of lies eventually collapsed when her kidnapping claim triggered a full-scale investigation.
She was arrested shortly after the truth surfaced and charged with perjury. The case has since been moved to the Melmoth Magistrate’s Court, where she made her first appearance earlier this week.
Second Perjury Case in One Month
Authorities pointed out that this is not an isolated case. KwaZulu-Natal police also dealt with another perjury matter in the same month. In Madadeni, a 21-year-old woman appeared in court after admitting to lying under oath about being raped by her uncle. The accused uncle, however, remains in custody on a separate charge of raping his 15-year-old niece in Blaaubosch.
“These incidents highlight a worrying trend where false cases are being opened, putting unnecessary strain on police resources,” said Netshiunda.
Police Condemn False Reporting
Law enforcement has strongly condemned the practice of filing false cases, stressing that such actions undermine genuine victims of crime. “Reporting a false case is a criminal offence and police will ensure that those who waste police’s limited resources by opening false cases are met with the wrath of the law,” SAPS officials warned.
They further emphasized that the hours spent investigating non-existent crimes could be better directed towards protecting vulnerable groups, particularly women and children who face real threats of violence and abuse.
Call for Responsibility
KwaZulu-Natal police have urged members of the public to act responsibly when reporting crimes. Authorities stressed that fabricating stories not only carries legal consequences for the perpetrators but also risks damaging community trust and support for real victims.
As this case unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder that dishonesty in reporting crimes can have far-reaching consequences, wasting critical resources and potentially diverting attention from those truly in need of protection.
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