The baby had been abandoned near the White River Community Centre and the Civic Centre and the guard noticed something was amiss when he heard crying sounds coming from a plastic bag.
According to WO Gugu Phiri, spokesman for the White River SAPS, the guard called a woman passing by and asked her to look inside the bag. She was at first hesitant but decided to take a look and was horrified to discover the crying baby.
She immediately went to the police station for assistance, where officers phoned the Department of Social Development. It in turn reached out to Child Welfare White River, who took the infant to Rob Ferreira Hospital. He was cared for there until Tuesday afternoon, when the social worker in charge of his case, fetched him.
Police are unsure whether the child’s mother wanted to kill him or leave him where he would be found. Child Welfare has taken over the case and is currently searching for the mother as she needs to give consent to leave him in a caregiver’s custody or to put him up for adoption.
Phiri urged young moms to consult social development or Child Welfare if they were in trouble. “Don’t kill or desert your child, there are social workers who can assist you,” she said. “There are people out there who really want a child and are willing to adopt. If you feel you can’t take care of your baby and want to give him up for adoption, approach these organisations for help.”
Phiri emphasised that the mother should not be afraid to come forward, as SAPS would not arrest her. “Everyone just wants to help both of them. The priority is the welfare of the baby,” she said.
Child Welfare has offices on the corner of Joe Hanna Street and William Swanepoel in White River and can be contacted on 013-750-1001.
