GEORGE NEWS - A George family is reeling following what they believe to have been a foiled abduction attempt of the family's three-year-old daughter. 

The incident happened inside New Harvest retail store at the Eden Meander about two weeks ago on Sunday morning, 15 May. CCTV video footage taken in the store shows a man, at the time employed at New Harvest, picking up the little girl and making off with her. 

The toddler's six-year-old brother can be seen saving the day by alerting their mother who had her back turned for a few seconds as she was perusing the content of the dairy shelf. 

The boy shouted that a man had taken his sister through a set of PVC strip curtains into the storeroom. On the footage it is clear that the mother immediately races in the direction in which the man and her daughter disappeared. 

About 15 seconds later she returns with her crying daughter in her arms.

'I like children'

She told George Herald that shortly after retrieving her daughter from the man, he came to her in the store while she was holding and calming her daughter and apologised saying, "I'm sorry. I like children. I wanted to play with her...". This conversation happened off-camera.

The mother said the same man had also interacted with her daughter and tried to take her teddy bear when they entered the shop at about 11:00 that morning.

After the incident at the dairy fridge, the store management was notified and on the store's CCTV footage the man was identified as 33-year-old Mvuyisi Zweni, according to police employed as a security guard at the store at the time of the incident.

George Herald has heard that Zweni is no longer employed at New Harvest, but this could not be confirmed. 

New Harvest owner, Basili Apostolellis, declined to comment as a "legal process" is underway, while Southern Cape police spokesperson Sergeant Christopher Spies said the case is still under investigation.

The family's legal representative, Donald Curtis of A Chimes van Wyk Inc, said they have sent a formal demand on behalf of their client on 23 May. "We have received a reply from the insurer of business that they are investigating, but nothing further to date."

Two police members attended the scene shortly after the alleged abduction attempt, but according to the mother, they said there was no case to be made against the man. She and her husband later again alerted the authorities and a case was opened.

The suspect walks toward the family.

Child safety takes priority

This week is Child Protection Week and Spies said the safety of children remains one of the key priorities of the police. "Therefore specialised detectives located at the George Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit (FCS) were assigned to this investigation," he said. 

"Investigation into this matter is ongoing. All other matters raised form part of the ongoing police investigation."

"All other matters raised" refers to questions posed by George Herald among which were the conduct of the police on the scene, where the suspect is from, and whether the suspect has a criminal record.

It is unclear when the suspect was arrested, but Spies said investigation into a kidnapping case led to his arrest. Zweni was released on R500 bail in the George Magistrate's Court on Wednesday 25 May. His next court appearance is on 4 July.

Be vigilant

Both the parents and two children are traumatised by the events and receiving therapy, but the mother praised the members of the George Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences unit for their conduct and support.

She warned parents to be extremely vigilant. "Something terrible can happen in the blink of an eye. My whole world came to a standstill when I saw my daughter wasn't there. My advice to parents whose child has disappeared is to start shouting out your child's name, age, hair colour and attire in order to mobilise everyone around you to start looking for him or her. Don't be shy. If it's a false alarm, all is OK. If not, the possible outcome is too horrific to contemplate should you not find your child within seconds like I did."

About 15 seconds later she returns with the crying child in her arms.

The dazed family huddles together just before the suspect came out of the storeroom to talk to the mother. The ensuing conversation takes place off-screen.

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