Two suspects are expected to appear in the Athlone Magistrate’s Court following the grim discovery of a newborn baby wrapped in plastic and buried in a shallow grave in Hanover Park. 

The baby’s body was found in an open field near Canal and Downberg roads at 22:58 on Sunday (July 19). 

Shadia Khan, a community activist and director of Fight Against Crime SA (Facsa), says she received information that an infant had been buried in a shallow grave and contacted police for assistance. 

Nine incidents 

Khan says metro police, officers from Philippi SAPS and members of the K9 Unit were deployed to search the area. 

“After several hours of searching, the baby was tragically recovered. Forensic pathology services attended the scene and one suspect was arrested after allegedly leading SAPS to the location where the baby had been buried. Hours later, another suspect was taken in for questioning,” she says. 

Khan adds that Facsa has responded to nine incidents involving babies abandoned in open fields and stormwater drains across the Cape Flats since the beginning of the year. 

Arrests 

Western Cape police spokesperson Thembakazi Mpendukana says police opened a concealment of birth case and arrested a 35-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman. 

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