Two premature babies stolen from EC hospital
Police in Gqeberha are searching for two women who are believed to have stolen two premature babies from Dora Nginza Hospital on Tuesday night.
The police confirmed that the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit is investigating two cases of kidnapping.
Spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg says the two boys, aged two and four days respectively, were reported missing at about 8:30 pm.
Janse van Rensburg says, according to reports, one mother left her baby in the Premature Unit of the maternity ward after breastfeeding shortly before 7 pm. Still, when she returned for a second feeding, she discovered the infant was missing.
A second mother later arrived and found her child missing as well.
#sapsEC #SAPS appeals for public assistance after two infants kidnapped from Kwazakele Hospital. #sapsFCS Unit is investigating two cases of kidnapping following the abduction of two newborn boys from the maternity ward at Dora Nginza Hospital on the evening of Tuesday, 20/05.… pic.twitter.com/LgSkDX4Eiu
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) May 21, 2025
Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape Health Department says it's gravely concerned by the increased targeting of health facilities by criminals.
Health MEC Ntandokazi Capa condemned the apparent breach of security protocols and instructed management to launch an internal investigation.
The MEC urged the community of Gqeberha to help find the two babies.
Elaborating on the incident, health spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo says a security guard stationed in the maternity building tried to stop the women when they attempted to access the ward carrying a bag.
Kupelo says the ladies were assumed to be breastfeeding, but one managed to evade the security guard and gain access to the nursery, carrying the same bag.
He added that after studying the CCTV footage, one of the ladies was seen using a different exit.
This story first appeared on the Algoa FM website.
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