Babybox number three for eMalahleni
The reason behind this project and the vision that Maureen had was definitely to make a difference
Every child that is born has a purpose in life and with a third baby safe box in eMalahleni, there is no reason to take that purpose away.
WITBANK NEWS reported in September 2019 about the first South African Community Crime Watch (SACCW) Baby Safe Box that was installed in the busy street of Mandela Drive and so the second baby safe box was launched in November 2019, after WITBANK NEWS reported about an abandoned baby that was found in Spring Valley wondering off by himself and SACCW saw the need for a baby safe box in that area.
The baby safe box was sponsored by an anonymous reader and was installed in Vulture Street, in front of the main entrance to Spring Valley in Reyno Ridge.
The news of a third baby safe box broke in December 2019 when the same generous reader fully financed the box and Maureen Scheepers, founder of this division immediately started searching for a safe and convenient location.
On January 20 SACCW launched the third baby safe box in the Central Business District, placing this life saving resource in Hertzog Street.
The decision to place the box at this location was strategically done as to cover two “hot spot” areas; CBD and Old Coronation, where babies have been abandoned previously according to statistics.
The reason behind this project and the vision that Maureen had was definitely to make a difference.
“In my everyday work as Operations Co-ordinator for SACCW I saw the need as I attended numerous scenes where babies had been dumped and died. I live by a saying: ‘Identify the problem and create a solution’ and that’s exactly what I did. I started researching the baby safe box initiative and implemented it in eMalahleni,” she said.
These boxes were all placed strategically according to statistics and to ensure that most of eMalahleni is covered with walking distance for mothers in need of this resource.
Scheepers added that she is really amazed that this project came so far in just a few months just by having three of these very important resources in our city, but this is not the end.
“We still have a few areas to cover to ensure that no life is ever lost again due to mother’s not having any other option. We would like to add at least five more baby safe boxes in and around eMalahleni, this includes Phola and Eznambeni as our next locations.”
Baby Safe Box locations:
• 15 Hertzog Street, (Central Business District).
• 11 Vulture Street, Reyno Ridge (Spring Valley entrance).
• Mandela drive, at New Life Church children’s home.
Contact numbers in case of an emergency or for needed information:
• Maureen Scheepers – 082 565 6770
• David Wessels – 072 777 3012
