Child kidnapping case postponed
The Tembisa Magistrate's Court has again postponed the case against Tshepo Bertha Lebaka, who allegedly stole a new-born baby boy from his mother at the Tembisa Hospital on May 10.
The case was postponed to October 1. According to the Tembisa SAPS spokesperson, Captain Manyadza Ralidzivha, Lebaka earlier pleaded guilty to the kidnapping.
When Lebaka was arrested, she told the police she had been pressurised by her boyfriend ‘s need for a child.
Lebaka was arrested at Olivenhoutbosch on May 23and the police took the baby to the Tembisa Child Welfare. DNA tests were performed to verify the paternity of the child.
After the results came back positive, the baby was returned to his mother, Mercy Mabaso.
In last Tuesday’s court appearance, the court heard how Lebaka was not suitable for correctional supervision as a sentence.
According to the correctional supervision report accepted by the court, Lebaka was uncontrollable at home and unstable. It is alleged that Lebaka lost a child when the child was 6-months-old. Correctional services official, Tshepo Kola, told the Court it would be difficult for Lebaka to adhere to the conditions of correctional supervision, which comes with strict measures of house arrest and regular monitoring. Kola said Lebaka had taken responsibility for her actionsbut should serve time so she could learn a lesson.
