The mother of a two-year-old boy who went missing in November 2024 received R75 0000 in her bank account on the day she reported him missing. Heavily pregnant Keneilwe Shalaba (33) appeared before the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court today for the continuation of her bail hearing.

R75K FOR HER SON?

Shalaba, the mother of three who is accused of selling her son Kutlwano was arrested last year and charged with human trafficking, conspiracy to commit an offence and making a false statement to the police. Before her arrest, Shalaba told the police that the boy was kidnapped by three unknown males in a silver-grey VW Polo. She claimed that the men grabbed Kutlwano from her back when she got out of a taxi and sped off. She was arrested a few days later. During her bail application hearing today, the investigating officer in the case Sergeant George Motloung revealed that Shalaba admitted in her statement that money was deposited to her bank account. Motloung also said the police managed to get her bank records which showed an amount of R75 000 was paid on the day she reported Kutlwano missing. 

A DANGER TO CHILDREN 

Motloung pleaded with the court to not grant Shalaba bail as she is a danger to her other two children. Shalaba has previously told the court that she was pregnant with twins and pleaded for bail as she said prison conditions were not conducive for her and her babies. "The applicant is a danger to children. If granted bail, there's a likelihood that the twins she is carrying might go through the same thing as the two-year-old. She will also interfere with state witnesses. The same day she opened a case, she contacted a state witness saying she must contact the father of the missing child and ask him to deposit R40 000 for the release of Kutlwano. She also told one of the people she went to Durban with that if the police asked if she was travelling with Kutlwano, she should say yes. She promised to pay the person," Motloung added. The hearing continues and the state is opposing bail.