Suspected Baby Snatcher Sameemah Jacobs Gets R4,000 Bail, South Africans Unhappy With Justice System
- Sameemah Jacobs (37) has been granted bail in the Bellville Magistrates' Court on 28 July 2025
- The mother of three is charged with kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice, according to the police
- South Africans shared their thoughts on the bail amount granted to Jacobs by the court
Source: Twitter
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.
WESTERN CAPE - Sameemah Jacobs has been released on bail of R4,000 by the Bellville Magistrates' Court.
The 37-year-old was arrested after she was found with the abducted baby, Mogamat Imaad Shamar. The one-week-old baby was taken on 28 June by a woman who befriended his mother, Imaan Brandt-Shamar.
Jacobs was arrested on 30 June 2025 at her home in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain. She has been charged with kidnapping and defeating the ends of justice.
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What happened during the bail hearing?
The State was opposed to bail as the Investigating Officer told the court that she was not a suitable candidate for bail. Her defence argued that she should be released as she was the primary caregiver to three children.
Jacobs was granted bail of R4,000, provided that she reports to the police station and has no contact with witnesses. The matter has been postponed to 15 October 2025.
Jacobs pretended to be three different people
The court also heard how the suspected baby snatcher allegedly posed as three different people while communicating with Brandt-Shamar. Anti-kidnapping unit detective, Sergeant Dawid Fortuin, found evidence on two cellphones confiscated from her after the arrest, which showed the names Sameemah, Wasiema, and Chevon Classen saved as three different numbers on her phones.
Brandt-Shamar originally told police that she was communicating with a woman named Chevon, who claimed to be from the Zoey Project, an organisation that provides support to mothers. In her defence, her legal aid lawyer told the court that Jacobs suffers from bipolar disorder.
Source: Twitter
How did South Africans react?
Social media users were not happy with the bail amount, expressing concern that Jacobs would commit another crime now that she’s been released.
Simmone Bouch said:
“Imagine, you kidnap a baby, a newborn, and you get R4,000 bail. There should be no bail.”
Shihaam Ismail suggested:
“There will be a few more kidnappings coming up.”
Kathleen Louise Nutman appealed:
“There should be no bail for any crime against children.”
Wonder Mwamba added:
“No wonder kidnappers are doing as they please. May God watch over us and our children.”
Greg Solomons said:
“But you steal bread to feed your family, and you go straight to Pollsmoor. Justice is a joke in South Africa.”
Princess Yasmine Gomer exclaimed:
“Oh my God. She's going to abduct another baby and sell it. Our courts are terrible. Criminals run the courts.”
Niqabie Eeza said:
“Once again, the justice system fails our kids.”
Jacobs denied kidnapping the baby
Briefly News reported that Jacobs denied kidnapping baby Mogamat Imaad Sharmar.
The mother of three claimed that Brandt-Shamar gave her the baby in the Middestad Mall.
Jacobs was arrested at her Tafelsig home in Mitchells Plain, where she was found with the baby.
Source: Briefly News
