The Ikageng police are investigating concealment of birth and an inquest after a still-born baby was found in a garbage dump in Ext. 11, Ikageng last Friday.
Sgt Kelebogile Trom, the Ikageng SAPS spokesperson says the police were called to the corner of Sebone and Seroe streets at about 07:45.
‘Upon their arrival, they met one of the community members who informed them that they had seen a woman burning plastic on the rubbish dump and noticed the parts of a baby among the debris. She left the woman and informed other members of the community who could not find the woman when they returned to the rubbish dump.
‘The police investigated further and found the woman among the crowd of community members who had come to witness the scene.
The police questioned her and she confirmed that she had been burning plastic at the rubbish dump earlier and had seen the baby’s body parts. The body was taken away but no one has been arrested at this stage,’ reported Trom.
This is the third baby that has died under mysterious circumstances in the past three weeks. On 8 October, a 24-year-old mother of a 5-month-old baby was arrested in connection with the death of her child after she left the baby in a shack that burnt down. At about 12:10 on Saturday, 6 October, the body of a stillborn baby was discovered in a blocked sewer in Boikhutso Street, Kanana.
Susan Fouché, the director of Vessels of Mercy and the Baby Safe, says they can assist the mothers of unwanted babies.
‘We are a non-profit organisation that runs a residential home in Ikageng as a place of safety. We have put up a Baby Safe or baby bin that provides the mothers with an option to safely leave the baby where one of our staff members can collect it within three minutes. When the bin is opened, the mother has 30 seconds to place the baby inside and close the door. Once the door is closed, the alarm goes off in the house and we fetch the baby. These mothers stay anonymous and the service runs 24 hours a day. We do this as an alternative to baby dumping and to save lives,’ she said.
The Vessels of Mercy 24-hour helpline is 080 005 5555 or 018 297 4000 for women who do not want to leave their babies but need help otherwise. ‘The babies are placed in our place of safety until Abba Adoptions facilitates the adoption process.
Susan says mothers who cannot raise their babies for whatever reason can leave them at 10768 Molope Street in Ext. 6, Ikageng.
