Couple found guilty of trying to sell their 6 months old baby for R 500

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A couple from Tshwane will have to spend their festive season behind bars awaiting sentencing after being found guilty of human trafficking and child neglect.

This is after it was discovered between July and November that Wayne and Justine Loubster, 36 and 32 respectively tried on several occasions to sell their toddler who at the time was 6 months old.

It was heard in Pretoria High Court that the couple had the baby in April 2020 and failed to register the child with the Department of Home Affairs with the intention of selling the baby and for the baby not to be traced back to them.

This is according to NPA Spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana who said that this could from Booysens, approached a lady by the name of Saunders who owned a food cart not far from them at around August asking for food.

“She first met Wayne who asked her for food from the food cart, the following day Wayne came with his wife, Justine to introduce her and the baby who was two months old at the time. Wayne proceeded to ask Saunders for R50 in order to buy nappies for the baby.”

“Saunders asked her daughter in-law to go buy them and gave them to the couple. From then Sounders continued to buy nappies and baby formula for the baby.”

Mahanjana added that it was also put on record in court that the couple made the baby drink cool aid while the father ate the baby formula.

The couple also assaulted the baby on several occasions.

“The mother would take the baby to her work place at a pub while the father would drop the child off at Saunders’ food cart while intoxicated. A doctor who examined the baby testified in court that on the 06 November 2020 she completed a J88-medical form which stated that the baby had bruises that were 5 days old on the head, chest and right arm and had rush on his buttocks.”

“On two separate occasions the parents individually tried to sell the baby to Saunders, the father approached Saunders first and offered to give her the baby for R2000.00 and asked to go with her to the Department of Home affairs to register the baby as hers.”

“While the mother on 03 November 2020 approached Saunders and offered to give the baby to her for a fee of R2500.00 because she wanted to live her husband and Pretoria. The following day on 04 November Wayne came back to the food cart to enquire if Saunders considered his offer, Saunders informed him that his wife also tried to sell the baby for R2500.00. Wayne then reduced his price to R1000.00.”

The ordeal by the couple ended when Saunders was approached by the father who decided to reduce the price of the baby saying he is willing the sell the baby for R 500. If not, they will then kill the baby.

Saunders then approached the police about this ordeal where police gave her the R 500 to complete the transaction.

The couple, fell for the trap and we’re subsequently arrested on the scene immediately after the transaction.

The money was also confiscated as the couple was arrested.

“The baby was taken to a health care facility for observation and is currently in safe care.”

They had been in police custody since the arrest on November 6 and are awaiting sentencing on February 1, 2022.