A mum-to-be who kidnapped a newborn girl after she miscarried so she could pass off the baby as her own has been seized by police.

The 21-year-old woman, not named in local media in Durban, eastern South Africa, was terrified her boyfriend would leave her if she told him she had lost their baby.

So on 4th May she kidnapped the two-week-old daughter of young mum she had met earlier at a new mothers' health clinic and took her home as her own.

The tot's horrified real mother Bongiwe Sindani called police and began a massive search for her missing daughter Owami.

Police say the suspect had visited Bongiwe at her home posing as a friend but when Owami's mum left the room she came back and found her baby had been taken.

Picture shows baby Owami Lonathando Sindani, undated. A woman was arrested after kidnapping a baby in Durban, South Africa. Note: Photo from Reaction Unit. (@ReactionUnitSouthAfrica/Newsflash/NX)

Officers later found the suspect in the street with baby Owami and arrested her.

Video footage shows her in handcuffs with an armed police guard after a crowd of angry neighbours threatened to dish out mob justice.

Police from the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit say she admitted the kidnapping.

(MJ Leidig/newsX)