A woman from the Free State has been arrested after orchestrating a false kidnapping case, which took a shocking turn after the biological mother of a two-year-old child reclaimed her son following a controversial arrangement.
The 46-year-old woman was taken into custody on charges of defeating the ends of justice and perjury after filing a fake kidnapping report at the Thabong police station on March 9, 2025. According to Captain Loraine Earle, a provincial police spokesperson, the incident stemmed from a deteriorating friendship between the woman and the biological mother.
A Troubling Agreement Turns Sour
What began as an online connection on Facebook evolved into an agreement where the Bultfontein woman had been raising the child, believing she was the child’s mother. The arrangement became complicated when the biological mother of the child decided to reclaim her son two years later, leading to a chain of events that culminated in the false kidnapping report.
On March 9, the woman reported that her two-year-old son had been abducted from the Thabong area. Following the report, police launched a crime scene investigation with multiple units involved, but no evidence of a kidnapping was found.
Investigation Unveils a Web of Deceit
Further investigation quickly uncovered the truth: the biological mother had picked up her child from the Bultfontein woman on the same day, March 9, at approximately 9:30 am. It was revealed that the child, who was born in Bloemfontein, was handed over to the Bultfontein woman shortly after birth. The biological mother then went on to fraudulently register the child at Home Affairs, using the Bultfontein woman’s identity document.
As a result, authorities discovered that additional charges of fraud and human trafficking would be brought against both the biological mother and the Bultfontein woman.
The Child’s Safety and Care
The two-year-old child is currently under the care of Puthaditjhaba Social Services while investigations continue. The case has left the community in shock, with questions surrounding the emotional and legal consequences of such a complicated custody situation.
The arrested woman now faces serious legal repercussions, including charges of perjury, fraud, and human trafficking. Investigators are continuing their work to uncover the full extent of the case.
