Civil rights organisation, Action Society, has lodged a formal objection with the Bellville Magistrates’ Court, opposing any relaxation of bail conditions for 37-year-old Shameemah Jacobs — the woman accused of abducting baby Mogamat Imaad Sharmar from a Bellville shopping mall in June 2025
Jacobs, who is out on R4 000 bail, has repeatedly sought to amend her bail terms. Her initial request cited a “religious excursion,” followed by a second application to “visit her son and collect belongings” in Mitchells Plain — the same area where baby Mogamat was found after his abduction.
In its letter to the court, Action Society outlined a firm
stance against any easing of restrictions, arguing that Jacobs’ conduct and
shifting explanations demonstrate “manipulation rather than genuine need.”
“The accused has previously displayed deceptive conduct and
cannot be deemed reliable under relaxed supervision,” the organisation stated.
“Allowing access to Mitchells Plain — the very area where baby Mogamat was
found — poses unnecessary risk and could undermine public confidence in the
justice process.”
PICTURE: PixabayHead of Action Society’s Action Centre, Kaylynn Palm, said
the case goes beyond inconvenience, describing Jacobs’ actions as a calculated
deception.
“This is not a case of inconvenience; it is a case of
deliberate manipulation. The accused deceived a young mother through multiple
false identities, gained her trust, and abducted her nine-day-old baby. Any
relaxation of bail conditions in such a case would not only risk public safety
but also retraumatise the family,” Palm said.
According to police reports, Jacobs befriended the baby’s
mother, Imaan Sharmar, under two false identities — first as “Washeemah,” a
woman she met at a clinic, and later as “Chevon,” a supposed nurse from a
support initiative called the “Zoey Project.”
On 28 June 2025, Imaan was allegedly lured into what she
believed was a legitimate support outing. When she briefly stepped away, her
infant was taken. The baby was later found safe in Tafelsig, Mitchells Plain,
following swift police intervention two days later.
“Clearly, the accused carefully planned and executed the abduction,” Palm added. “By assuming multiple identities and manipulating community trust networks, she targeted a vulnerable mother and her newborn. The court must ensure that the bail conditions reflect the seriousness of this crime and the risk posed by the accused.”
Action Society has urged the court to place the victim’s
trauma and safety at the heart of all bail-related decisions.
The bail amendment application has been postponed to 6
November 2025 for hearing.
Done By: Mitchum George
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