Urgent appeal: Help find kidnapped newborns from Gqeberha hospital

EASTERN Cape police launched an urgent investigation on Wednesday, after two newborn babies were kidnapped from the maternity ward of Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha.

Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said the Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit was investigating two separate cases of kidnapping following the disappearance of the infants, both boys, from the hospital's Premature Unit (PREM) on Tuesday night.

"Two families have been left devastated by this cruel and heartless act," said Janse van Rensburg.

"We are treating these matters with the utmost urgency and are appealing to the public for any information that might assist us in locating the babies and identifying the perpetrator or perpetrators."

The first incident occurred when a mother left her four-day-old baby in the ward after breastfeeding him at approximately 7 pm.

When she returned around 8.30 pm to feed him again, she discovered the child was missing.

A short while later, a second mother arrived at the unit and found that her two-day-old infant was also gone.

The police are calling on anyone who may have seen suspicious activity near the maternity ward or who may have information about individuals suddenly in possession of two newborn infants to come forward immediately.

Members of the public are urged to contact Colonel Biko at 076 129 2948, the Crime Stop hotline at 08600 10111, or report to their nearest police station. All information will be treated with strict confidentiality, and callers may remain anonymous.

The investigation remains ongoing, and hospital security protocols are under review.