Baby trafficked via Facebook group died, court hears

The infant who was allegedly sold through a transaction arranged on the Facebook group Ladies House was found dead, the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court heard this week.

Two women, Nonhlakanipho Mbatha (31) and Anele Mbhele (29), appeared separately in court in connection with the case. Mbhele faces a charge in relation to contravening abortion laws, while Mbatha is charged with kidnapping, theft, corruption, and defeating the ends of justice.

Magistrate S. Cadir granted R500 bail to Mbhele, who is from Umlazi, but denied bail to Mbatha, citing uncertainty about her Durban address and the seriousness of the charge against her. Mbatha’s second address, in Nkandla, was found to be too far from Durban for the court’s comfort.

In her bail application, Mbatha told the court that she is unemployed and does temporary work doing laundry and cleaning jobs when they become available.

“I have three children who stay with their aunt in Nkandla," said Mbatha.

She said she had been living in KwaMashu, section D, for two months, and before that stayed in the Siyanda informal settlement for three months.

"I was squatting there as I didn't have money for rent. I only have five months in Durban since arriving from Nkandla," said Mbatha.

Mbatha denied claims by the state that she did not have an ID, explaining that she had lost it in July and was now using a temporary one. She also told the court she had no previous convictions or pending cases.

The prosecutor opposed bail, arguing that Mbatha could not be trusted, as she had lied about being pregnant, had moved around with a dead child, and had frequently changed addresses.

According to the court record, the baby sale took place on August 25, 2025, when Mbatha lied to her friend, claiming she had given birth alone and that the baby had died at her rented accommodation. The friend informed Mbatha’s boyfriend, who went to the house and found her bathing the baby’s lifeless body. Mbatha allegedly asked to be taken to Nkandla to bury the child.

However, the boyfriend instead took her to King Dinuzulu Hospital in Sydenham, Durban, where it was discovered that she had never been pregnant. A DNA test later confirmed that Mbatha was not the child’s biological mother.

The investigation revealed that the baby’s real mother, Mbhele, had earlier posted in the Ladies House group on Facebook, asking for advice on how to get an abortion. Mbatha reportedly saw the post and sent the woman a private message, persuading her not to terminate the pregnancy. She allegedly promised to take care of the baby after birth and would “give her something in return.”

It remains unclear how, when, or where the baby died.

Both accused are expected to appear again in the Ntuzuma Magistrate’s Court on December 4, 2025.

Relatives of Mbhele, who were present in court, declined to comment.