Vaal Triangle police are investigating a second case of concealment of birth after the discovery of the lifeless body of a newborn baby.

The body was found on Wednesday (4/9) on the outskirts of Boitumelo and Sonderwater, Sebokeng, the second instance where an infant or foetus was found in the same spot.

In July, when Sebokeng police and the K9 unit’s search and rescue team were looking for a missing person in the stream, they discovered a foetus in its placenta.

“The body was found by passing community members who called the police and emergency medical services,” said Sebokeng police spokesperson, Nthabiseng Mokhachane. “Upon arrival, we inspected the scene. EMS personnel confirmed … it was a newborn baby boy with the umbilical cord still attached.”

It was taken to the Sebokeng state mortuary for further investigation, she added.

Section 110 of the Children’s Act (No. 38 of 2005) states that a social worker must gather all necessary information and affidavits from the person who found or reported the child abandoned and report the case to the police for investigation.

The Act provides for the placement of abandoned children in temporary safe care pending further investigation and final placement if found alive.

‘Every year, more than 10,000 babies are abandoned in SA’

Every year, more than 10,000 babies are abandoned in South Africa, of whom the vast majority are found dead, Baby Savers South Africa, a national coalition of organisations working to put an end to unsafe infant abandonment, told SABC News.

“We encourage mothers who feel unfit to care for their babies, to leave them at healthcare facilities and with organisations like Door of Hope Children’s Missions, instead of resorting to unsafe abandonment,” said Baby Savers director and co-founder Nadine Grabham.

“Babies are brought to us from the police, those who are found alive. We get babies from hospitals. Some babies are left at our door.”

Daily Maverick reported in 2020 that 26 baby homes nationwide took in 58 abandoned babies during the first two months of the national lockdown until June of that year.

‘Abandoned babies are usually discovered in sewer pipes and open fields’

Abandoned children, mainly babies, are discovered in places such as sewer pipes, open fields, garbage dumps, shallow graves, buckets, streets, outdoor toilets, and dustbins just meters from a place of safety.

FREE STATE
ANGEL WINGS BABY SAVER
Address: 42 Matroosberg Street, Vaalpark, Sasolburg
Contact number: 083 314 6436
Email: annemie.angelwings@gmail.com

EMUNAH FOUNDATION BABY SAVER
Address: 50 1st Avenue, Parys
Contact number: 083 696 7410
Email: emunahparys@gmail.com

MOSES ARK BABY SAVER
Address: 91 Hillcrest Street, Heidedal, Boemfontein
Contact number: 083 272 2538
Email: deidredk45@gmail.com

NORTHERN CAPE
SEDIBA DOOR OF HOPE
Address: Corner of Van Der Merwe and Ackerman Street, Kuruman
Contact number: 071 680 4683
Email: jsteenvat@gmail.com

NORTH WEST
Vessel of Mercy
Address: 32 Joubert Street, Potchefstroom
Contact number: 082 493 8963
Email: webmaster@vessels.org.za

OFM News/Zenande Mpame cg