Understanding the psychology behind infant kidnappings
A recent spate of infant abductions in South Africa has cast light on the complex psychology behind such crimes. Celeste Louw, General Manager of Operations at TEARS, commented on the case of 9-day-old Mogamat Imaad Sharmar, who was safely recovered in Cape Town thanks to swift police and community action. Louw noted that the perpetrator often does not see the baby as a person but as a solution to emotional trauma—such as infertility, miscarriage, or the loss of a child. In such instances, the woman may live in a delusional state, faking a pregnancy and creating an elaborate fantasy in which she sees herself as entitled to motherhood.
Louw emphasised that, despite the psychological underpinnings, the act remains a serious criminal offence. The emotional turmoil endured by the birth mother, the trauma inflicted on the family, and the risk posed to the child are inexcusable. While such kidnappers may believe they are rescuing or deserving of the child, their actions stem from a dangerous blend of emotional instability, entitlement, and detachment from reality. No personal pain or unresolved trauma, she argued, can justify the taking of another’s child.