KZN mother-daughter duo sentenced for kidnapping and fraud
A KwaZulu-Natal mother and daughter, who had snatched their neighbour’s child and used the seven-year-old’s birth certificate to obtain a social grant, had been convicted by the Durban Magistrate’s Court for kidnapping and fraud, provincial police said on Wednesday.
“[On Tuesday], the Durban Magistrates Court convicted and sentenced a mother, 50, and her daughter, 24, for kidnapping and fraud that was committed in 2010,” spokesperson Colonel Jay Naicker said.
The court handed down a heftier sentence to the 24-year-old daughter who would spend 14 years behind bars, while the mother received a lighter, eight-year sentence.
The sentencing and conviction related to the kidnapping of a seven-year-old girl in February 2010.
The girl was at the Durban railway station when the kidnapping occurred.
The 24-year-old told the girl that she was requested by the girl’s mother to accompany her home.
However, the girl was kidnapped and taken to the convicted’s home.
“The child’s surname was changed and the second accused, 50, applied for a new birth certificate at the department of Home Affairs so that she could obtain a social grant,” said Naicker.
Meanwhile, the Durban Central Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit undertook an investigation after a missing persons inquiry was opened relating to the seven-year-old girl.
“The child’s picture was published in the media and a member of the community recognised her and contacted the police,” said Naicker.
Police acted on the community tip-off, subsequently arresting the mother-daughter duo.