A Manenberg mother who violated a court order and kidnapped her own two-year-old daughter after the courts removed the child from her care was arrested on Tuesday.
After a three-week search, cops finally caught Rozanne Appollis, 21, yesterday morning on a farm in Southfield where her child was found unharmed.
Last week ouma Tessa, 37, made a public plea for her daughter to return the girl, saying she feared for her health.
The worried granny told the Daily Voice that after giving birth, Rozanne disappeared and went to a farm in Southfield where she smoked drugs and neglected the child.
She says Rozanne smoked tik and Mandrax and her granddaughter was diagnosed with severe bronchitis and struggled to breathe.
Last year the child was admitted to Red Cross Hospital where she spent three weeks in the Intensive Care Unit after her mother once again disappeared with her and she suffered from chest and heart problems.
After a two-year battle, the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court ordered that the child be removed from Rozanne’s care, but on 21 September, she ran away with the child and Tessa opened a case.
Tessa says on Monday after they received information that the child was again at the farm in Southfield, she accompanied the detective to find the child.
“We found her by the house of a woman who says she came across Rozanne sitting with the child on a veldjie,” says the ouma.
“She was vuil and hungry and we don’t even know when last she ate.
“Her health seems to be OK and I am watching her closely.
“She is very happy to be home where she feels safe but doesn’t speak so we don’t know what Rozanne did or where all she took the child.”
Yesterday morning Manenberg detectives returned to the farm where they arrested Rozanne.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk says: “This office can confirm that a woman was arrested on a farm in Southfield by Manenberg detectives.
“The two-year-old girl child is safe, she was found by detectives [Monday] after information was received.
“The mom has been arrested for violation of a court order.
“She will appear in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.”
Tessa says she is still waiting for feedback from the case.
“I am not sure what happened at court because I am still waiting for the detective.
“ I am just glad that the child is safe.”