Sex worker ‘dumps’ foetus in CBD

The foetus was discovered in Anderson Street by municipal waste collectors on Sunday. The street is notorious for being a place of business for sex workers, Mpumalanga News  reported.

According to the woman’s friends, she began bleeding heavily and when questioned about it, she apparently said it was her menstrual cycle.

“When we saw people gathering outside and the foetus lying on the ground, we realized what our friend had done. We tried to call her on her cellphone, but it rang unanswered,” they said.

“When we checked her room, she was not available either, and her belongings were no longer there.”

Eyewitnesses said they noted trails of blood from the woman’s room leading to where the foetus was found.

One shop owner, Abdul Ibrahim, said he had been left shocked by the incident.

“I can’t accept that she could just throw the baby away like this. The police must do their work to investigate and arrest her for this barbaric act,” Ibrahim said.

Nelspruit police spokesperson, Captain Dawie Pretorius said a criminal case had been opened and investigations are continuing. He urged anyone with information that could lead to the woman’s arrest to contact the Nelspruit Police Station on 013-759-1404.

The incident comes after a six-month-old foetus was found by municipal workers when they were unblocking a drain in Mappleton, Boksburg, in Gauteng, last month.

Dawn Park police spokesperson Captain Charles Tshabalala said police received a call from one of the contractors working for the municipality to notify them about the discovery.

“The foetus was apparently flushed down the toilet, hence it caused the drain blockage,” he said.

Tshabalala added the abandonment of foetuses or newborn babies appeared to be a regular occurrence in some areas and that mothers needed to act responsibly.

– Caxton News Service