A South African mother Noluthando Mkhaliphi is appealing for urgent help after her young daughter was taken out of South Africa by her Congolese father and has not been returned as agreed.
Mkhaliphi’s daughter left South Africa on 17 December 2025, with her father for what was meant to be a short holiday.
According to Mkhaliphi, the trip formed part of a post-breakup agreement between the two parents.
Holiday agreement turns into nightmare for Mkhaliphi
In a viral video, Mkhaliphi said she expected her daughter to return home after the brief holiday.
Instead, she received a message on 5 January informing her that her ex-boyfriend was now in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and intended to keep the child for six months.
The message left her devastated and alarmed.
“He texted me saying that they went home (DRC),” she said, adding that the sudden change violated their understanding and cut off her access to her child.
Police initially hesitant to act
Mkhaliphi immediately reported the matter to Ivory Park police, describing it as parental abduction.
She said officers were initially reluctant to open a case, citing the father’s parental rights.
Police instead advised her to approach the courts and contact the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
After days of pushing and gathering additional proof, Mkhaliphi said said the police comfirmed that the case needs to be opened.
Diplomatic hurdles complicate Mkhaliphi’s case
The case now faces serious diplomatic challenges, as the DRC is not a signatory to the Hague Convention on international child abduction, which limits South Africa’s legal options for enforcing a return.
Mkhaliphi fears that the lack of international legal safeguards could allow her daughter to be moved again without her consent.
Adding to her anxiety, Noluthando said she fears her ex-boyfriend may attempt to forge travel documents or move the daughter to another country, possibly in Europe.
Mkhaliphi appeals for urgent intervention
Mkhaliphi is now appealing to South African authorities and international bodies to intervene before the situation escalates further.
She says time is critical and hopes diplomatic channels can be activated to secure her daughter’s safe return.
