Newborn baby abandoned in Maphumulo pit latrine

The body of a newborn baby was found in an abandoned pit latrine in Maphumulo last Thursday.

Police believe a 16-year-old girl concealed her pregnancy and placed the baby in a plastic bag before dropping it into the two-metre deep pit latrine on her neighbour’s yard.

IPSS Search and Rescue, in collaboration with Umhlali Saps’ K9 Search and Rescue unit, retrieved the body.

Spokesperson for KwaZulu-Natal police, Colonel Robert Netshiunda, said both the girl and her 35-year-old mother were arrested for concealment of birth.

The two appeared in the KwaDukuza Magistrate’s Court on Monday and their case was remanded to February 6.

According to Melissa Hertz, who established a baby saver box on the North Coast six months ago at Umhlali, thousands of babies are abandoned in South Africa annually, and it is believed that for every baby rescued, two are found dead or not found at all.

The baby saver box provides a safe and anonymous means for mothers to leave their newborn babies in times of desperation.

“It is devastating that a baby was lost. There are many reasons that can motivate a mother, especially a teen mother, to abandon her baby. Some of these are unemployment, fear of her family, or the family forcing her to hide or get rid of the baby,” said Hertz.

Her organisation, Project Life, offers various services, including online pregnancy help options, counselling and post-abortion recovery counselling.

Its Undiluted Sex and Life Skills Programme presented at schools and churches forms part of their efforts to raise awareness and address the challenges faced by the youth.

The baby saver box is located between the Umhlali Post Office and Christ Church North Coast.

Contact Project Life at 079 793 4640.

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