A 32-year-old South African woman, Keneiwe Portia Shabala, has been charged with human trafficking after allegedly selling her two-year-old son and falsely reporting his abduction to the police.
Shabala appeared before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates’ Court in Gauteng on Monday, November 25, 2024. She faces charges of human trafficking, conspiracy to commit robbery, and providing false information to law enforcement.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), the incident occurred on November 10, 2024, when Shabala allegedly sold her toddler, Kutlwano, to unidentified individuals. Three days later, on November 13, she reported a fabricated case to the police, claiming that her son had been kidnapped by unknown men driving a vehicle.
An investigation by authorities revealed inconsistencies in her statement, and Shabala later confessed to making up the kidnapping story. She was arrested on November 19, 2024, and has been in custody since.
Police are still searching for the child, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Efforts to locate him continue as the case garners widespread attention.
The court has postponed the matter to November 29, 2024, for a possible bail application. The State has indicated it will oppose Shabala’s release on bail.
