Jailed Mother, Keneilwe Shalaba, Who Sold Her Toddler For R75K Gives Birth Behind Bars

Keneilwe Shalaba, the 32-year-old woman accused of selling her two-year-old son for R75,000, has given birth while in custody.

Shalaba, who was arrested in November 2024 for faking her son’s kidnapping, was due to appear in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on February 21 for her bail hearing. However, her ability to attend is now uncertain due to her current condition.

Authorities Tight-Lipped on Keneilwe Shalaba Childbirth

While Shalaba previously told the court she was expecting twins as part of her bail plea, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) has neither confirmed nor denied reports of her giving birth.

DCS spokesperson Singabakho Nxumalo stated that the department does not disclose personal medical details of inmates, though they do keep records of infants in their facilities.

Community and Activist Groups Demand No Bail

Public outrage over the case continues to grow, with community groups and political organisations rallying against Shalaba’s potential release. The ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) in the Vaal region and SANCO have publicly condemned her alleged actions, insisting that she should remain behind bars.

“We now have doubts as to what she is going to do with her unborn children. There should be no bail because we are not certain whether she will disappear with the children,” said ANCWL representative Mamello Morobi.

SANCO regional chairperson Nkosinathi Ndwandwe also weighed in, stating: “Selling kids for whatever reason is unacceptable. Children are a gift from God, and trafficking them is against the law and our society’s values.”

Investigation Uncovers Shocking Financial Transactions

Sergeant George Motloung, the investigating officer, confirmed that Shalaba received R75,000 on the same day she reported her son’s alleged kidnapping. However, she has refused to disclose the child’s whereabouts, intensifying concerns that he may never be found.

With new questions surrounding her newborn(s), authorities will now have to determine the fate of her latest children while she remains in custody.

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