Mother abandons her 2-year-old daughter with street vendors to go negotiate bride price with her new boyfriend

Authorities are searching for a mother who abandoned her 2-year-old for bride price negotiation with her new boyfriend in South Africa. 

Reaction Unit South Africa in a statement on Saturday, August 2, 2025, said the woman identified simply as Sne left the child with two street vendors in Verulam CBD, KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, August 1.

According to the statement, she told the vendors she was on her way to Hluhluwe in Northern KZN with her new boyfriend to negotiate a lobola (bride price) and would be back late to fetch her child. 

The woman has since switched off her phone and all efforts to contact her proved abortive. 

“Two street vendors arrived at the Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) Headquarters this evening (Saturday) with the 2-year-old girl reporting that the mother had met them while they were at work,” the statement read.

“The mother known as Sne (surname unknown) had often spoken to them when she was shopping in the Central Business District. Sne was in the company of an unknown man and requested that the vendors keep the child at the stall for a short period.

“When the stall was been closed for business, the woman became concerned and called Sne on her mobile phone. She informed them that she was on her way to Hluhluwe in Northern Kwazulu Natal with her new boyfriend to negotiate a lobola and would be back late to fetch her child.

“Last night (Friday) the woman once again contacted the mother on her mobile phone and she informed them that she was in a town called Mhlabayalingana in KZN and would return shortly. 

“She has since switch off her phone and all contact has been lost. The women have little information on the mother & are refusing to care for the baby any longer.

“According to the vendors, the mother had left an apple, banana and a packet of chips for the child.”

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