'I died inside the day I lost my child, I need answers': mother of kidnapped, murdered child

The mother of a four-year-old girl who died after being stuffed in a luggage bag in a kidnapping attempt is relieved an arrest has been made and hopes to get answers from the woman accused of the murder.

Police arrested the woman allegedly seen dragging a luggage bag into an e-hailing taxi in Protea Glen, Soweto, last month with Keeya Mbulawa unconscious inside.

The woman, who was a tenant on the property, fled after the mother, Khanyo Mbulawa, questioned her about her daughter's whereabouts as the girl was last seen playing in the yard.

Everywhere I go and everything I do reminds me of her. My life revolved around Keeya.

—  Khanyo Mbulawa

After insisting the woman's belongings be searched, the mother discovered her child tied up and unconscious in the small bag.

Mbulawa rushed the child to hospital in a critical condition but she died several days later and it was suspected she was drugged by the alleged kidnapper.

The accused, found walking in the streets of Protea Glen on Wednesday, was spotted by a resident.

Mbulawa told TimesLIVE Premium she was relieved the woman was arrested but is reliving the pain of losing her child.

“This is bringing back everything. The wound is open again and everything has become fresh, like it happened yesterday. Her arrest on Wednesday made me experience that loss all over again. At the same time, I am relieved she is found,” she said.

Since her daughter’s death, Mbulawa said she felt her life was a continuous nightmare and found it hard to accept her child was gone.

“Everywhere I go and everything I do reminds me of her. My life revolved around Keeya and what I needed to do for her. When I see a small child I think of mine. It is hard to accept such things. Sometimes it’s like a dream I wish someone could come and wake me up from. It’s been a nightmare. This woman killed me. I died inside the day I lost my child.”

Mbulawa suspects the accused was not working alone as she had also allegedly tried to drug another neighbour’s child on the same day.

“I believe she is working with others. Her being found means she will disclose her accomplices. There might be some other mothers who will also get closure.”

The accused faces charges of kidnapping and murder and is expected to appear in the Protea magistrate's court on Friday.

Mbulawa will visit the police station on Thursday to identify the accused and give another statement to police.

She said she will attend the court case as she wants answers and hopes justice is served.

“I plan to attend court. I want to see her and see what she has to say.”