Number of dumped foetuses a concern – social worker

This after the dead body of a baby was found dumped next to a church in Mamelodi East in Pretoria yesterday, Rekord East reported.

Mamelodi East police spokesperson Warrant Officer Michael Mbewe said a passer-by found the body and alerted police. A concealment of birth docket has since been opened.

Mamelodi social worker Anastasia Mosetlha expressed concern over the number of foetuses or still-born babies found in the township.

“If women find themselves in difficult situation concerning pregnancy or do not want to take care of the baby, they are welcome to ask the Mamelodi social workers for help,” added.

Mosetlha said some women got rid of their newborn babies because they were under pressure and stressed because the father of the baby did not want to get involved.

“We offer different counselling for women who do want to take care of their children, counselling for rape cases and if they do not want to keep the children,” she added.

In July, the body of a dead newborn baby was found in a rubbish bin at Valentia Flats in Sunnyside, Pretoria.

Tefo Moremi, who found the baby, said he took out a half-empty rubbish bin from the Valencia Flats premises at about 7am and emptied it into a larger bin outside. An alleged nyaope addict, who had been looking for food, told Moremi there was a baby in the bin.

This came after  a 23-year-old woman was arrested after giving birth and burying the body of her dead baby in her backyard in Soshanguve Block Y, Pretoria in February.

The woman’s mother notified the police after her daughter told her she had dumped the baby in a nearby veld, police said. The infant was born alive.

“We would like to encourage the fathers of the babies to support their girlfriends during their pregnancy period,” Mosetlha added.

– Caxton News Service