Kidnapped baby found, couple arrested

A six-month-old baby boy kidnapped from his parents’ home in Bezuidenhout Valley, Johannesburg, was found safe on Thursday, Gauteng police said.

The child was “found in good health in Fordsburg”, Lt-Col Lungelo Dlamini said.

  Police arrested the Pakistani couple who allegedly kidnapped him and allegedly tried to slit his nanny’s throat on Tuesday. The couple had rented a room in the family’s house.

  Earlier on Thursday, Dlamini said: “The father received an sms late yesterday [Wednesday] saying that they [the kidnappers] were demanding R100,000 for the baby”.

  The couple had three children of their own, and were apparently expecting a fourth.

  According to a report in The Star on Thursday, the father, Ifeanyi Jones, pleaded with the couple to return his child.

  “Please bring my son back. You say you are Christian, and this baby has done nothing to you.”  Jones claimed the couple had tried to poison their food.

  “I think now that their motive was to come and do harm.”