Emotional scenes as mother faces alleged kidnapper of her newborn in Bellville court

"I am so anxious now after seeing her."

These were the words of Imaan Sharmar, 25, as she came face-to-face with her son's alleged kidnapper, 37-year-old Sameemah Jacobs, in the Bellville Magistrate's Court, on Thursday. 

Jacobs is accused of abducting Sharmar's 9 day old baby Mogamat Imaad Sharmar from Middestad Mall on Saturday. 

She has since been charged with kidnapping and defeating the administration of justice. 

Sharmar was supported by her family at court and also had baby Imaad with her.

She sat in the public gallery with her husband Mogamat Imtiyaaz Sharmar, her mother Deborah Brandt, her mother-in-law  Nabilah Saghar, her aunt Kathleen Brevis, and others.

Sharmar was too emotional to speak with the media, only saying with tears in her eyes how anxious she felt. 

The family said since the kidnapping, Imaad was struggling to latch onto his his mother for breastfeeding.

The State, meanwhile, said it will oppose bail for Jacobs. 

State prosecutor, Salaahuddeen Simon, said they still required bail information.

"The state is opposing the accused's bail," said Simon.

"We have to determine which schedule it is and we need the bail information."

He further asked for a seven day remand to allow for bail information to be obtained and the case was stood down until July 10. 

Magistrate Theo Marx then turned his attention to a nervous looking Jacobs who kept her head bowed during proceedings.

Jacobs stood in the dock dressed in a black salaah top and covered her face with a mask.

Via her legal aid representative, she said she feared the safety of her children, should her photograph be taken, who all attended school in Mitchell's Plain. 

But Magistrate Marx ruled it was in the public's interest that the proceedings be recorded. 

"Do you understand that the matter will stand down until July 10 for bail information and that the State is opposing bail. This may change if they look at everything but they may keep their decision as it is."

Jacobs answered in English that she understood.

Jacobs was arrested on Monday -  three days after Imaad was kidnapped.

Her photograph also went viral on social media following her arrest but could not be published until she was formally charged and pending the court's decision.

The infant was allegedly found at Jacobs's home in Honolulu Street, Tafelsig, after a resident alerted a missing person organisation that they were suspicious of her and that they believed she had the baby.

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