Family feud brews over baby

The situation of baby *Gugu Nkosi has left her father devastated.

*Jabu, Gugu’s father, feels his daughter should be with him and the child’s mother, *Dorah.

The child’s aunt refuses to allow the parents to see the child.

The EXPRESS visited the family last week when information was received about the brewing family drama.

The settlement where Gugu’s parents live is not conducive for a baby, as it involves a dangerous walk along the edge of the Yeoville koppie.

Their shack is built at the edge of the koppie with sticks and polyethylene black underlay sheets. There is no door.

This is the life Dorah and Jabu live.

Both parents are unemployment and cannot provide for the baby.

According to the Yeoville SAPS social crime prevention coordinator, Constable Lindiwe Pile, Dorah’s sister recently visited the Yeoville Police Station and requested assistance.

“The information we received was that the mother was drunk when she gave birth and that is how the baby came into the care of her aunt. When the aunt came to the station for assistance, she told the officers the parents had not returned the baby to her, following a visit from the parents.

“That is where the problems started. Jabu claimed the sister did not allow him to see his baby daughter and he then opened a case against her, claiming she had taken the baby by force,” said Const Pile.

“I have no problem with the baby being with her aunt because she has a proper place to stay. We had an agreement in the beginning that she would take the baby to live with her until she was six months old and then she would bring her back. But when she came with the police and took my child, that is when I became angry. I decided that I don’t want my daughter to live with her anymore,” Jabu told the EXPRESS.

When questioned about how he intends caring for the child as he is unemployed, Jabu said, “I will make a plan and do odd jobs to provide for my baby as long as she is with me,” said Jabu.

Lying in bed, nursing herself back to health after giving birth, Dorah said she doesn’t want the baby due the the growing feud between her sister and Jabu.

“I don’t want to argue anymore and I don’t want Gugu to come back because I can’t even breastfeed her anymore. What am I going to feed her now because she is on formula and I cannot afford it,” said Dorah.

Const Pile said her attempts to arrange accommodation for the mother and child at a shelter were unsuccessful, as Dorah refuses to leave Jabu.

“According to Dorah’s sister, the baby is in her care because Dorah was drunk while giving birth. The sister claims the mother did not even realise the child was born prematurely. The hospital had to release her and the baby into the care of a family member.

“As far as we know, the baby is also registered in the sister’s surname as Dorah does not have any proper documentation. The law protects the sister because both parents are unemployed and the living conditions are not favourable to raise the baby. Furthermore, there are health reasons which make the mother unfit to take care of the baby. As Dorah has no proper documentation, she also has no access to a social grant,” said Const Pile.

She said Jabu has since told the officers he want his baby to live with the sister.

* Names changed at the request of the Yeoville SAPS Social Crime Prevention officers.