Asanda Twala was found at 5.25pm on Tuesday afternoon, Lt-Col Katlego Mogale said in a statement.

"Her uncle received a call, telling him to relay to Asanda's father that she is downstairs, they should come down and fetch her," Mogale said.

"The uncle hurried to his brother's room and told him. They asked a friend to go and check downstairs and indeed found the child unharmed."

Mogale said there was no one else around. She had been missing for the past two weeks since a family friend took the child to shops near the house.

"Asanda was fine and had no visible injuries, and was taken to the doctor who said she was healthy," Mogale said.

A woman, who sent text messages to the toddler's family demanding R15,000 cash in exchange for the child's safe return, was still on the run.

"The Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit is still continuing with the investigation to bring the perpetrators of this crime to book."

Earlier, police said information they had indicated the woman was hiding somewhere in the Vaal, after pictures were circulated.