Police seek mother who abandoned children at taxi rank

The police have appealed to the public for help finding a mother who is facing a charge of child neglect after she allegedly left her children with a stranger before disappearing.

SAPS Free State region spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Thabo Covane, said that members of the police Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit in Mangaung Metro were looking for a mother of two children estimated to be between eight months and 8 years old. She allegedly left them with a stranger in Hanger Street near the local taxi rank complex.

Covane said that a 28-year old woman, who had been left with the children, had reported the matter to the police. She had allegedly been approached by the mother for help while she was walking to the local taxi rank at around 18:30 on Friday 3 December. 

“The unknown African female who had three children with her pleaded with the complainant to look after the children for a while, while she went into the tavern to look for the alleged mother,” Covane said.

Mother disappears with one child

Covane said that the woman had agreed to look after the children. He said the mother had taken one child with her and left two of them behind. 

“The unknown African female disappeared and never came back for the children,” Covane said. 

The two children were then taken to Parkweg Police Station where a case of child neglect was opened, Covane said.

“They were later examined and placed at the place of safety,” Covane added.

The police have appealed to any member of the public who can help the police to trace the mother of the two children to come forward with information. 

Sergeant Lebo Bosman can be contacted on 082 527 6309. Alternatively the information can be submitted anonymously via the MySAPS App or by calling SAPS Crime Stop 08600 10111.