Mother chooses life for unwanted baby
"She came to us instead of abandoning the child in a veld or dustbin."
A baby was discovered near a toilet on Tuesday, 7 March at about 6pm.
Read initial article here: Abandoned new-born discovered near toilet
Dumisani Jubeka was stationed as head of security at the Tower of Life (TOL) Shelter in Krugersdorp on that day and was calmly sitting in his office going about his daily business.
He heard a strange crying sound and traced the sound to the back passage of the premises. He found a baby lying on a table in the passage near the toilets of the property.
Jubeka contacted his superior Anthony Weilbach, CEO of TOL, who in turn instructed him to take the baby to hospital immediately. The baby was taken to the Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital. The Community Police Forum of Krugersdorp was also contacted.
“We opened a file for her at the hospital,” said Weilbach.
“When the nurse asked us what her name was, Jubeka said she should be named ‘Precious’.”
Once the baby was safely in the arms of professional caregivers, Weilbach opened a case docket of child abandonment at the Krugersdorp Police station and informed the Child Protection Unit as well.
“We reviewed our CCTV footage shortly after the incident and saw a woman with a baby in her arms entering the premises and talking to a few people who live near the shelter.”
Then the woman slipped away into a quiet area of the shelter and went into the back passage to leave the baby there. She immediately left the premises.
“The mother of the child seemed not older than 20 and we understand that there must have been a very valid reason for her to leave the baby with us,” said Weilbach.
“She came to us instead of abandoning the child in the veld or a dustbin and we are very happy that she decided to bring the child to us instead of leaving her to die.”
TOL wishes to make contact with the mother as they would like to help her through this difficult stage of her life.
“You don’t have to give your child up, we understand it’s difficult, but there is a way to be a part of the child’s life.”
Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital informed the News that the baby is very healthy.
“She is a healthy and bubbly female infant,” said Patrick Sofohlo, CEO of the hospital. She weighs 2,9kg and is 50cm long. She is between three and six months old.
Anthony Weilbach can be contacted on 011 660 4610.
Read more here
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