Number of abandoned babies concerns Christians
Mpumalanga News had been reporting on a number of cases in which newborn babies had been abandoned.
SHABALALA – The rate at which mothers are constantly dumping newborns, is becoming a serious concern to the Christian community.
This is according to several local pastors who also said this act contributed largely to moral decay in society.
“This world is becoming increasingly sick and one can only wonder what people will do next. Who in their right state of mind can dump their own child and walk away to continue with their lives? It is immoral to the core,” said Past Colbert Maluleke of Shabalala Trust.
Mpumalanga News had been reporting on a number of cases in which newborn babies had been abandoned. Last week a naked infant was found in a shallow toilet pit.
According to Hazyview police, a young girl alerted family members after she had heard the baby’s cries. The police were summoned to the scene.
After a tip-off by community members the mother was tracked down and DNA tests confirmed that it was her child.
“She was arrested and appeared in the KaBokweni Magistrate’s Court on Monday where she was charged with child neglect,” said the police.
Meanwhile, Mhala SAPS are still searching for a mother who abandoned her baby in Jet at the Thulamahashe Shopping Complex.
According to officials who had been alerted about the baby boy, estimated to be three days old, the shop manager found him wrapped in a blanket which belonged to the store in a plastic basin which was on sale at the shop.
“We suspect that the mother could have hidden the baby in her handbag when she walked into the shop and it seems as if she had planned to abandon the baby boy there,” stated Capt Nelson Khoza.
Khoza added that the baby was taken to Tintswalo Hospital and a case of child neglect had been opened.
“We will try everything in our power to locate the mother and we urge anyone with information that can lead to establishing her whereabouts to contact Mhala Police Station on 013-773-0331 or 013-773-9080.”
A concerned citizen and founder of the Creseldah Foundation, Ms Creseldah Ndlovu urged mothers who felt incapable of looking after their babies not to abandon them but to contact her foundation which cooperated with social workers to help and place babies for adoption.
“Babies are a gift from God and regardless of how they were conceived and tough situations faced by the parents, they deserve a chance to live,” said Ndlovu.
Interested parties can contact the Creseldah Foundation on 072-770-8580.
