The disappearance of two-year-old Kutloano Shalaba initially believed to be a kidnapping case, has taken a disturbing twist as his mother has been charged with trafficking him.
Story Summary:
- A 32-year-old mother is in custody for allegedly trafficking her son, two-year-old Kutloano Shalaba, after fabricating a kidnapping story.
- Police investigations revealed that the mother sold her child to unidentified individuals, and efforts to locate him are ongoing.
- The case has been postponed to 29 November 2024, for a potential bail application, with prosecutors planning to oppose her release.
Kutloano Shalaba disappearance takes a shocking turn
The 32-year-old appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates Court on charges including human trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery, and filing a false police report.
The woman had initially reported that her son was kidnapped by three men in a silver-grey VW Polo on Wednesday, 13 November 2024.
According to her police statement, she was walking with Kutloano on Batloung Street in Boipatong, Sedibeng, when the men allegedly grabbed the child and drove away.
Kutloano was last seen wearing brown pants, a white top, and black takkies.
The case drew widespread attention and urgency, with the Gauteng police launching an intensive search for the child.
However, investigations revealed inconsistencies in the mother’s story.
Confronted with the evidence, she confessed to fabricating the kidnapping claim and was arrested.
According to police sources, the woman is accused of selling her son to unidentified individuals, but details about the transaction and the child’s current whereabouts remain unclear.
Law enforcement has not disclosed the identities of the alleged buyers and has intensified efforts to locate Kutloano.
Police have called on members of the public to assist in providing any information that could lead to the boy’s recovery.
The mother, whose name has been withheld to protect the identity of the child, has been remanded in custody. Her case has been postponed to 29 November 2024, for a possible bail application.
Prosecutors have indicated their intention to oppose bail, citing the gravity of the charges and the ongoing search for the child.
