Premature Babies Kidnapped From Gqeberha Hospital, Police Launch Urgent Search For Newborns Taken From Incubators

In a terrifying incident that occurred in Gqeberha, two premature baby boys were kidnapped from Dora Nginza Hospital on Tuesday night, 20 May.

The abduction happened within the maternity ward’s premature unit, where both infants—only four and two days old—were receiving critical care in incubators.

According to police reports, one of the newborns was also being treated for a broken arm at the time of the abduction. The infants, who are from unrelated families, were taken during what authorities believe was a coordinated kidnapping.

The South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit is investigating two separate kidnapping cases and is working around the clock to recover the babies.

Desperate Search Underway After Babies Vanish from Ward

SAPS spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg told The Citizen that the infants vanished between 7pm and 8:30pm. One of the mothers had just breastfed her child and left the ward briefly. When she returned, the baby was gone.

“At 7pm, she left her baby in the maternity ward’s premature unit after breastfeeding him,” said Janse van Rensburg. “When she returned at 8.30pm to feed the child again, she discovered he was missing.”

Shortly afterward, the second mother entered the ward and found that her newborn son was also missing.

The race to find the infants is intensifying as each hour passes. Both the police and health officials have urged the public to come forward with any information that may assist in tracking down the suspects.

CCTV Shows Suspects Evading Security with Concealed Bag

Eastern Cape health department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo confirmed both mothers are local residents of Gqeberha. He revealed chilling details from CCTV footage showing two women involved in the abduction attempt.

“The ladies were assumed to be breastfeeding. However, one of them managed to evade the security guard and gain access into the nursery carrying the same bag,” Kupelo explained.

Footage later captured one of the suspects exiting through a different door, the bag still in her possession.

Eastern Cape MEC for Health, Ntandokazi Capa, strongly condemned the incident and ordered an immediate internal investigation at the hospital. She urged the community to assist law enforcement in any way possible.

“If you have seen anyone with two babies under suspicious circumstances, please come forward,” said Capa.

Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Colonel Biko at 076-129-2948, Crime Stop at 08600 10111, or report to their nearest police station. All tips will be treated as confidential, and callers may remain anonymous.

---

For SA Crime News Follow SurgeZirc SA on Facebook,  X and Instagram