A drunk mother had her baby taken away from her by concerned residents who found her staggering in the street in the early hours of the morning.
The mom was returning home in Samora Machel after a party on Sunday at 3am when a couple in Eyadini suspected her of having kidnapped the child.
Aphiwe Mtini, 26, says she left four-month-old Amazile with the strangers to walk to the Philippi Police Station to “bring evidence”.
But on her way back, cops driving past informed her that they already had her baby.
“The police told me to go to Mitchells Plain Hospital to get my baby,” says the mom.
“I’ve been in the hospital since Sunday and have to wait until the Easter holiday ends to meet with the social worker before I can take my baby home.”
Aphiwe says she saw on Facebook that she was accused of abandoning her baby and wants to set the record straight.
“I went to a party, not far from my home, and I stayed there until it was late,” she explains.
“I must be honest, I was drunk and careless for not going home earlier, and I had an option to sleep over at my friend’s house, but I decided to walk home with my child.
“I was walking with two friends when a Toyota Avanza came and guys tried to rob us, but I didn’t have anything for them to rob.
“During the attempted robbery, a man came out of his shack because we were shouting and the skollies left when the man started talking to us.”
The mom says a woman also emerged from the shack and angrily asked why she had a baby out at that time.
“I told her that she is my baby and we are on our way home, but she said she didn’t trust me,” says Aphiwe.
“She asked for the baby and I gave my baby to them.
“She threatened to call the police and I was afraid and told her I will go to the police myself so they can help me prove that Amazile is my child.
“I left my baby with the couple and went to Philippi police and I was told that I must go to Samora Machel Police Station.
“My baby was taken from me because I had to prove that I am her mother.”
Captain FC van Wyk says Samora Machel police are investigating a case of child abandonment.
Aphiwe, who also has a nine-year-old daughter who lives with family in the Eastern Cape, was shocked when she learnt of the charge.
“I don’t know if the police will arrest me. I am seeing the social worker (today) who will tell me what I must do to get my baby back.”