Avatar photo

By News24 Wire

Wire Service


Remains of dead newborn found by dog owner in Free State

It is alleged that the owner of the house was watering his garden when he saw his dog eating something animal-like.


The following story may be disturbing to sensitive readers.

Free State police have opened an inquest docket after the body of a newborn baby was found eaten by a dog.

The incident happened on Monday at Eureka Park in Meloding, police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said on Thursday.

“It is alleged that the owner of the house was watering his garden when he saw his dog eating something animal-like.

“The dog was dragging it to a shack in their yard. The owner allegedly followed the dog to the shack and found a half-eaten body of a newborn.

“The baby had only the head, left thigh… as the dog had allegedly eaten other parts of the body, thus the gender of the baby could not be determined,” said Makhele.

Makhele said emergency services had been called to the scene and declared the baby dead.

The police asked for “anyone with information about the mother” of the baby to visit the Meloding police station or contact Sergeant Ditshewana Nkwala on 073 558 2937 or 057 10 7200 during office hours.

The police expressed no interest in the father’s whereabouts.

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.

Read more on these topics

baby death dog

For more news your way

Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.