Police said that her fed-up neighbour, who has been caring for the child since June, reported the matter to the police on October 17.
“The woman said she heard her neighbour’s child crying endlessly sometime in June, and when she went to investigate, found that the baby was left alone in the house,” said police spokesman Capt Mack Mngomezulu.
She took the child to her house and cared for her, hoping the mother would return.
But the child’s mother has since been playing hide-and-seek with her neighbour, prompting her to report the matter to the police.
“Whenever she tried to return the child, the mother, who lives alone, hid from her neighbour,” said Mngomezulu.
She was arrested for child neglect and the child was taken to a place of safety.
“The police will act harshly towards those mothers who abuse or neglect their own children,” said Mngomezulu.
He urged members of the community to report this type of incident to the police, or to contact the Crime Stop line on 086001011 or 10111.
