A 26-year-old woman from Melmoth, KwaZulu-Natal, has been arrested and charged with perjury for fabricating a kidnapping story about her non-existent baby. According to Colonel Robert Netshiunda, the police spokesperson, the woman claimed her three-month-old child was snatched by three men in the KwaMagwaza area on September 13, 2025, prompting a large-scale police search.

The Deception Unfolds

After an extensive search, police discovered that the woman had lied about the kidnapping and had never given birth to a baby. It was revealed that she had deceived her boyfriend and his family into believing she was pregnant and had given birth, while telling her own family that she had had a miscarriage.

Arrests and Consequences

The woman was arrested and is expected to appear in the Melmoth Magistrate’s Court. Netshiunda expressed concern about the misuse of police resources, noting that this is the second perjury case this month involving false claims of serious crimes.

Police Urge Public to Refrain from False Reports

The police have urged the public to refrain from opening false cases, particularly those involving violence against women and children. Netshiunda emphasized that reporting a false case is a criminal offense and wastes valuable time that could be spent assisting real victims.¹

Melmoth, where the incident occurred, is a small town in KwaZulu-Natal with a population of approximately 9,360 residents. The town is known for its picturesque setting and is often referred to as the “Gateway to the Zulu Highlands”.