Newborn found at Amanzimtoti dumping site rushed to hospital

KZN Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga has condemned the abandonment of a newborn baby in Amanzimtoti, south of Durban.

This after a baby, believed to be a couple of hours old, was found by a community member in a refuse bag at a dumping site yesterday.

According to the Social Development Department, after the police were called, the baby was rushed to Prince Mshiyeni Hospital in Umlazi.

Shinga expressed disapproval of the act and called for the police to act swiftly in identifying the person responsible. The baby is receiving medical attention.

“With all the awareness of children’s care and the support that has been made available by the government, we are extremely disappointed by this act. We are pleased that the child is safe and now in good hands,” said Shinga.

She said the department is looking into sustainable care for the child, such as family-based alternative care placement options, like foster care and adoption. However, she said the first option is to trace the child’s mother.

With offices in all 11 districts in KZN, she encouraged people who feel they can’t take care of their children to approach the department’s social workers.

“We have now identified a need to strengthen our awareness campaigns of prevention and early intervention programmes that promote the rights of the children,” said Shinga.

She commended the Amanzimtoti police, local leadership and social workers for their swift response in saving the baby’s life.

The department said it will work with the police to trace the child’s relatives.

Operation Bobbi Bear, which was part of the newborn’s rescue, thanked the Amanzimtoti community for their help.

“What an amazing team of people. Thank you all so much for the quick response. I look at all these huge men and I see such emotion on their faces; we are all begging this little angel not to give up. She is estimated to be about four hours old. Slowly the warm waterbed she is so tightly attached to starts warming her little body… Finally, she lets out a tiny cry.

“Baby you are now in the best hands possible – you are a true little fighter and I just know that you felt the love of the people surrounding you…,” the organisation wrote on Facebook.