Cops tardy over baby’s body, Mamelodi dump site workers claim

Angry workers at the Mamelodi East dumping site yesterday claimed police took more than a day to respond after they discovered the body of a newborn baby and informed the police.

According to one worker, he called the police on Monday to inform him of the body, but the police only responded by 2pm yesterday. The workers wish to remain anonymous out of fear of victimisation.

“The actions of the police are unacceptable,” one worker said.

A red jacket is seen propped up over a colourful blanket covering the body of a newborn baby that was discovered among the trash at the Hatherley Municipal Dumping Site, 8 May 2018, in Mamelodi, Pretoria. Picture: Jacques Nelles

Police spokesperson Captain Mike Mbewe said police were informed of the body yesterday morning and they had gone out to the scene as soon as they got the information and location.

But when The Citizen visited the scene, there was not a police officer in sight and the scene was not condoned off.

The baby’s body was lying in the dirt with people searching around it for whatever they could find to sell, or use.

Only an ambulance and members of the Tshwane Emergency Unit were on the scene waiting for the police to arrive.

Mbewe said the police opened an inquest docket and would investigate.

“It is difficult to give any information about the body, but it looks like a newborn baby,” Mbewe said.

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