GEORGE NEWS - Judgement in the trial of Mvuyisi Zweni (33), the man charged with kidnapping after an incident in the New Harvest store at Eden Meander Lifestyle Centre last year, will be handed down on 4 August.

Zweni is accused of kidnapping a toddler (3) by picking her up and walking off with her while her mother was shopping with her and her older brother in May 2022. Zweni was arrested a few days later and released on bail of R500.

Both the state and prosecution have called all their witnesses and final arguments were heard on 12 June.

The incident was recorded on CCTV video footage, where Zweni can be seen picking up the little girl and making off with her while the mother's back is turned.

The toddler's young brother alerts their mother and she promptly runs after the man. About 15 seconds later she returns with the crying little girl in her arms after finding her in a storeroom with the man. 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.

Throughout the trial Zweni stuck to his version that he did it because he likes children and he only wanted to play with her.

The case serves in front of Magistrate Eugenia Jacobs. Chamelle Bastian is appearing for the state and the accused is represented by Zukile Mqulo.

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