Newborn found in pit toilet, mother in court

Police confirmed the incident occurred on Sunday at about 05.10am, North Coast Courier reported.

Police spokesperson Major Thulani Zwane told The Citizen: “The woman, 27, was arrested and charged with attempted murder after she allegedly threw the newborn infant into the sewage-filled hole at the Rajkumar informal settlement in Belvedere, Tongaat”.

The suspect appeared in court on Monday. Zwane said the court appearance results are unknown at this stage, as the docket is still at court.

When police arrived at the scene on Sunday, community members positively identified the mother of the child, which was confirmed by an employee at Tongaat Clinic, where the woman delivered the baby.

Paul Herbst from IPSS Medical Rescue said an advanced life support paramedic assessed the baby and found him to be in a stable condition. “The child was transported to a local hospital for treatment,” said Herbst.

Warrant Officer Manisha Maharaj-Marie of Tongaat police Trauma and Victim Support Centre urged expectant mothers who are not in an emotional or financial position to raise their own children to seek help through the correct, established channels instead of finding their own solutions.

“The first step should be to use contraception, which is absolutely free at local clinics. Or place your child up for adoption and contact the welfare department for assistance,” added Maharaj-Marie.

In February, a woman was arrested after she allegedly buried the remains of her six-month-old foetus she had aborted in her backyard in Canelands, near Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal.

It is believed the woman was six-months pregnant and had consumed homemade muti to abort the foetus. The mother was questioned, and she pointed out the blanket. She had allegedly dug up the body after she got wind that officers were in the area searching for her house.

– Caxton News Service