The newborn baby that was found abandoned near stormwater drain in the Verulam CBD. Picture: Reaction Unit South Africa
Baby abandonment is an ongoing problem in KwaZulu-Natal, with cases occurring almost every week, according to the KZN Department of Social Development.
The department was commenting after an incident on Sunday where a newborn baby was rescued by a security officer from Reaction Unit South Africa after being abandoned near a storm water drain in Verulam’s Central Business District (CBD).
Her mother, a 32-year-old woman from Lesotho, was tracked down and arrested.
The woman was charged with child abandonment and is currently detained.
The department confirmed that a social worker had been assigned to the case and that the baby would be placed in temporary safe care pending further investigations.
"Every child that is in need of care and protection is dealt with in accordance with the Children’s Act No 38 of 2005.
"The baby is currently receiving medical attention at Osindisweni Hospital, and a social worker has been allocated to provide the necessary services," the department stated.
The department also noted that when a baby is abandoned, social workers open a case with SAPS to trace the parents and any relatives who might be able to care for the child.
"If no relatives are found, placement at a Child and Youth Care Centre, foster care, or adoption may be considered," the department said.
The department said baby abandonment is an ongoing issue in KwaZulu-Natal. "Almost on a weekly basis, we deal with cases like these," the department revealed, citing financial hardship and teenage pregnancies as the main contributing factors.
The department said mothers who feel they cannot care for their babies have alternatives to abandonment.
“There are shelters that accommodate pregnant women or mothers with young babies.”