LISTEN: Baby Siwaphiwe's mother arrested
The office of acting National Police Commissioner Kgomotso Phahlane has confirmed that 1-month-old Siwaphiwe Mbambo's mother has been arrested.
Little Siwaphiwe was found after police pulled over a suspicious vehicle at Mariannhill Toll Plaza in Durban in the early hours of this morning.
Three suspects were arrested, and it has now emerged that one of them was the mother of the infant.
Phahlane's spokesperson Athlenda Mathe says police officers should be commended for finding the baby.
"We are grateful the baby was found in a healthy condition. We also commend our officers for affecting an arrest of three people involved in the alleged kidnapping and hijacking. It is unfortunate that one of the people taken into police custody is the mother of the baby herself."
Mathe says Phahlane will release more detailed statement later on Sunday, explaining exactly what led to the mother's arrest.
Earlier KZN police spokesperson, Thulani Zwane said through crime intelligence they managed to intercept the vehicle - and on further inspection found a baby inside the car.
"After we searched the vehicle we found a 1-month-old baby suspected to be the same child that was missing. It was later confirmed it was the same baby that was missing and the suspects were arrested."
News of the child's disappearance sparked nationwide concern this week, and made local and international headlines - after it was reported that two armed suspects had driven-off with a white Toyota Yaris belonging to Siwaphiwe's mother, Sibongile - with the infant still inside. The family - including an eight-year-old boy - were allegedly accosted outside a shopping centre in the Durban CBD - shortly after 11am on Friday.
On Saturday, police announced a R250 000 reward was being offered to anyone with information leading to the safe return of baby Siwaphiwe - and the arrest of her captors.