Cape Town – A 37-year-old woman is set to appear at the Belfast Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, August 23, after she dumped her newborn baby in the bushes next to the railway line in Dullstroom, Mpumalanga, on Sunday.
The woman faces a charge of child neglect, said Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala in a statement.
“Police received a call from a concerned caller who opted to remain anonymous that he saw something wrapped like a baby. On police arrival, it was confirmed that it was a baby and police urgently summoned the medical services who took the baby to hospital,” said Mohlala.
Mohlala said police investigation led to the mother of the baby boy and she was arrested and charged accordingly.
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Provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant-General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela condemned the woman’s actions.
“It is concerning when a woman acts so cruel, especially during a period when other women are being celebrated for the vital role that they play especially in the lives of many children in the society,” Manamela said.
Manamela urged women who struggled with the responsibility of raising children to approach relevant social services where children can be given up for adoption rather than dumping them.
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
