Cape Town – A woman who abandoned her baby in the bush near Oaklands Drive in Dawncrest, KwaZulu-Natal, reportedly handed herself over to the police on Thursday.
The 23-year-old mother came forward three days after she dumped the infant, claiming that she had contacted social workers twice before resorting to leaving her three-month-old baby next to a stream in Dawncrest.
“The woman was arrested after she handed herself into the SAPS following a public outcry on social media platforms in SA. The young mom was charged and appeared in the Verulam magistrate’s court today [Thursday] and was granted bail of R500,” Times Live quoted the Reaction Unit SA’s (Rusa) Prem Balram as saying.
The matter was remanded to November 10.
The baby was found by a mango picker on Monday. She was found with a bag containing nappies, a bottle of milk and a pacifier.
A letter written by the mother was also found inside the bag.
In the short note, the mother pleaded with whoever found her baby to not judge her but rather help the infant.
“You might be wondering why I dumped my baby, don’t wonder just help her if you can or call authorities but don’t judge me. I have spoken twice with social workers they delayed to assist, I know this bad but I had no option the system is fragile and we can’t even abort safely anymore, hospitals have strict rules,” the mother wrote.
The Infant was with Verulam Child Welfare and Family Society.
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Picture: Facebook/ Reaction Unit South Africa
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
