Lack of concern infuriates residents
Despite the residents' belief that it was a foetus, police officers claimed the remains were those of a dog.
“The smell was horrendous and it looked like parts of its body had been fed on. I am certain it was a foetus.”
These were the words of Mr Eloff Rikhotso, one of three Klopper Park residents who reported what they believed was a dumped foetus to the Bedfordview SAPS.
The Morgloed Road residents, who reported their findings to the SAPS on April 30, are furious at how the SAPS handled the case.
Despite the residents’ belief that it was a foetus, police officers claimed the remains were those of a dog.
Mr Gideon de Bruyn said, “On the morning of April 30, I went outside and saw refuse removal workers collecting the garbage. One of the workers came to me and said they will not remove one particular plastic bag. When I asked them why not, they said there was something disgusting in the bag.”
“When I asked Mr Rikhotso, my employee, to check what was in the plastic bag, he told me it was an aborted foetus. We phoned the SAPS immediately and police officers were dispatched to the scene,” said Mr de Bruyn.
The police officers informed us that because it was a dog, there was nothing they could do about it,” said Mr de Bruyn.
The officers found the house where the bag and its contents originated from. The owner was told the contents of the bag should be disposed of by him.
“When the police arrived, they were afraid to open the plastic bag. I opened it for them. Using a branch from a nearby tree, I opened the plastic bag while the officers observed from a distance. I am certain it was a foetus,” said Mr Rikhotso.
Mr de Bruyn said he, his neighbour Mrs Martie Visser and the refuse removal employees all believe what they found was an aborted foetus.
“We feel the SAPS did not want to do anything about it. I feel that no thorough investigation was conducted,” said Mr de Bruyn.
Mrs Visser said, “It is not our place as residents to judge those who have abortions. Our concern is that there are children who walk and play in the area. We do not want children seeing these things. The SAPS disappointed us.”
Mr de Bruyn said his youngest daughter is five years old. “How can I, as a father, be comfortable with her playing outside when there are these types of things happening in our community? It is an embarrassment. We are all human beings. Why do we not live like it?” said Mr de Bruyn.
The residents attempted to locate where the foetus was disposed of, but their search yielded no results.
According to the Bedfordview SAPS communications officer, Sergeant Mduduzi Nhlabathi, there were no confirmed reports of a foetus being found.
“The concerns of the residents will be taken into consideration. At the moment, not much is known about this particular case, however the matter will be looked into,” he said. @BedfordJourno
