'I don't know what's going on': Accused kidnapper's mother speaks

Fresh stitches from childbirth and a hospital identification arm band, along with baby clothing, a baby bath and several other items is what created no suspicion for the family of the woman accused of being behind the kidnapping of 9-day-old Mogamat Imaad Sharmar.

During an interview with the Cape Argus on Tuesday, the 69-year-old mother of the 37-year-old suspect said she did not know anything about the alleged kidnapping. 

She said her daughter was hospitalised for nearly a week following a C-section birth and even had the wounds to prove it.

Her daughter is also not a first-time mother and has three children aged 8, 14 and 17. 

They have lived in Honolulu Street in Tafelsig, Mitchell’s Plain, for the past 17 years. 

The suspect is married and well-known to residents and even shared her joy of her "pregnancy", her mother said. 

The suspect's mother, who did not want to be identified, said on Monday, June 22, the daughter prepared her family for her birth and claimed she was being admitted to the Mitchell’s Plain District Hospital in Lentegeur.

Her friends were excited for the new arrival, according to the mother, and had showered the infant with clothing and even fetched the woman from hospital on Saturday.

The frantic mother, who was in tears on Tuesday, repeatedly said she did not know anything and that police stormed her home on Monday night, where they even climbed onto to her rooftop to find the kidnapped infant.

“She came from the hospital on Saturday, her friend fetched her from Lentegeur hospital.

“She was pregnant, she had the stitches also.

“Yesterday (Monday) I told her she must take off the hospital tag and she is still full of a lot of pain (from the birth).

“I really don’t know anything.

“Last night (Monday) the whole road was covered with the police and they came with big guns, they broke my window and my cupboards inside and ran on top of the roof.

“She laid in that room with the baby and had all the clothes, her friend bought the clothing.

“I do not know what the story is.

“She went into the hospital last Monday.

“Saturday or Friday she gave birth.”

A family friend, who was present, said they were worried about the elderly woman’s well-being.

“Everyone is attacking her verbally and saying how she should have known but she did not know anything, even the police did not explain anything to the mother," she said.

“We understand what the community is saying but she did not know anything.

“She is in a state of shock.”

A neighbour, Lydia Theron, said they were shocked because the suspect had three children.

“She has been living here for 17 years and has three children and is married,” she said.

Police confirmed the woman’s arrest on Tuesday morning after the infant was found on Monday night - three days after he was abducted.

The infant from Strandfontein was kidnapped on Saturday, June 28, at Middestad Mall in Bellville from his mother, Imaan Sharmar, also known as Britney Brandt.

Police together with a multi-disciplinary team comprising the Provincial Organised Crime: Anti Kidnapping Investigation, Crime Intelligence, Bellville Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit jumped into action and found the baby alive at the residence in Tafelsig.

Police spokesperson, FC van Wyk, said they made the breakthrough after following leads that led them to the woman’s home.

“The mother of the nine day old baby was at a local shopping complex in Bellville when she became nauseas. 

“She left the child in the care of a woman who was with her when she went to the bathroom. Upon her return the mother could not locate the woman and her baby. She reported the incident with Bellville SAPS for further investigation.

“Owing to the meticulous investigation and the analytical approach to the information at their disposal, the team pounced on an address in Honolulu Street in Tafelsig on Monday, June 30, where they found the child and in the process detained a 37-year- old female for kidnapping.”

Van Wyk said the woman is due to make an appearance in court this week.

“Once charged the suspect is expected to make a court appearance in the Bellville Magistrate's Court on the mentioned charge,” he said.

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