South Africa is investigating criminal child-trafficking charges against comedian Chris Rock in connection with a young girl he has been raising in his home for the past seven years — apparently without adopting her!
The Hawks — a special police team charged with investigating South Africa’s most high profile crimes — has been put on the case of young Ntombi-futhi Samantha, 7, who was brought to the United States from South Africa by Chris and his now-estranged wife, Malaak Compton-Rock, on a tourist visa in November 2008.
Despite there being no record that she was adopted, the child has been living in Chris’ $3 million Alpine, N.J., home since she was 9 months old and has gone on Rock family vacations, been to red carpet premieres and NBA games — and even attended school, just like Chris’ biological children.
Chris and Malaak’s unfolding divorce — which The National ENQUIRER previously reported when it began last year — has put a spotlight on Ntombi’s legal status.
“It seems there has not been regular contact with the biological parents, and if money changed hands — or even gifts — in return for the child staying with other people overseas, it sounds very much like child trafficking,” a source within the Hawks said.
Ntombi’s biological father has been identified as South African Crispen Khanyile, who was a waiter at the Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he befriended the internationally renowned comic when he stayed at the luxury hotel while on tour in June 2008. Crispen is now separated from Ntombi’s mother, Thusang Precious Ndebele, of Zimbabwe. The couple also have two sons: Sibusisu, 6, and Unathi, 10.
Malaak is now in the process of formally adopting Ntombi.
“While the adoption by Malaak is not yet finalized, it is actively in process under the rigorous guidelines and safeguards of international adoption policy,” Malaak’s lawyer has said. “The child is in the country lawfully with the written consent of her birth parents, and while here, has been cherished and adored by the entire Rock family.”
But the child’s status before now is the main concern of South African authorities.
Even Malaak seemed a bit confused about Ntombi — sometimes treating her as one of her own, and sometimes as a visitor.
Malaak dedicated her 2010 book, “If It Takes a Village, Build One,” to “my daughters, Lola Simone, Zahra Savanna, and Ntombi-futhi Samantha.”
Yet, in an interview with MyBrownBaby blog, Malaak wrote: “My brown babies are … Lola Simone, age 7, and Zahra Savannah, age 5. We also have Ntombi, who is 2 years old and from South Africa. She visits our family often and is our pride and joy.”
“Whatever arrangement there was between the Rocks and the parents of the child, laws are in place to prevent parents from allowing their children to travel overseas indefinitely with third parties,” added the Hawks source.
Ntombi’s presence once sparked speculation that she was Chris’ secret love child after he was photographed leaving New York City’s Trump International Hotel with her.
A rep for Chris said at the time that Ntombi was “the daughter of a family friend from South Africa whom Malaak Compton-Rock met through her charity endeavors over the years. She visits often and when here is a joy to the Rock family.”
Sources now say Chris has not been in contact with Ntombi since he and his wife split last December — though he has seen his biological daughters.
According to the statement from Malaak’s attorney, Ntombi “has been raised by the parties as a member of the family and has been solely supported by the parties. She also stated that she continues to be the girl’s primary caregiver.”
To adopt a child in South Africa, would-be parents must follow rigorous steps. They must submit an application through an accredited adoption agency. They must be screened by a social worker, have medical examinations, undergo marriage and psychological assessments, and go through home visits and police background checks.
After clearing all those hurdles, the would-be mommy and daddy usually land on a waiting list. If they’re lucky, their application goes to children’s court, where a judge must give approval.
