Two children were recently abandoned in Edenvale’s Tree of Hope’s Baby Box.
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A newborn baby girl and a several-month-old baby boy were abandoned respectively on September 10 and on September 17.
This year, three children, including the most recent two, were safely abandoned through Tree of Hope’s Baby Box.
In total 17 babies have been safely abandoned through Tree of Hope’s Baby Box since it was founded in 2019.
Co-founder of Tree of Hope, Daniela Carstens-le Roux said although the two September children were in healthy conditions no information about their birth was left with either child.
“The baby girl was dropped off in the morning. She was still shedding and had her umbilical cord attached to her,” said Daniela.
“She was in a healthy condition, clean and a good size for her age.”
Daniela believes because of the child’s condition and how clean she was her mother cared for her.
“The child was content and dressed beautifully. The mom even left a nappy bag for the baby girl,” said Daniela.
Similarly, Daniela described the baby boy who was abandoned on September 17 as also well looked after.
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Ryan Lotter, vice-principal of Monte Waldi, who was working at the property at the time said the child was placed in the baby box in the afternoon.
Doctors estimated the child to be five months.
“He was happy and healthy. The doctor said the child was looked after,” said Ryan.
Daniela said although the baby boy was happy, by the evening of the 17th he became unsettled but is doing all right.
Both incidents were reported to Edenvale SAPS and Child Welfare SA – Edenvale and Bedfordview.
Daniela said the children are living in safe care facilities and Child Welfare is now handling the matter for the court.
“In both instances, the Edenvale SAPS officers were nice to work with and assisted in providing us with occurrence book numbers,” said Daniela.
“They thanked us again for having the baby box.”
Daniella also thanked Emer-G-Med EMS and Mamba Security for providing preliminary assessments on the babies.
She said it is wonderful that organisations take an interest and help where they can.
When comparing the number of abandoned babies Tree of Hope has received this year, compared to during the Covid-19 lockdowns, co-founder of Tree of Hope Lelanie le Roux said there was less.
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She believes this is because of the organisation’s Baby Project, which sees Tree of Hope donate essential items to mothers in need and wanting to keep their children.
To ensure it can continue assisting moms in need, Tree of Hope appealed to community members to support the project by donating baby supplies.
Supplies that it needs include tinned food, vegetables, baby food, baby formula, toiletries, and nappies of all sizes,
Another item on the organisation’s wish list is an uninterrupted power supply to provide constant monitoring from the cameras in the baby box.
Contact the organisation on 083 456 5954.
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