‘The baby was not sick,’ says grandfather of child who died at Benoni crèche

The grandfather of a four-month-old baby boy who died at a crèche in Rynfield yesterday afternoon, June 5, said the child was not sick, as certain media reports have claimed.

Jan Rabie said his grandchild did cough during the early hours of the morning, but the baby was not ill when Rabie’s daughter, the child’s mom, dropped him off at the crèche, Benoni City Times reports.

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“My daughter told the crèche that if the child coughs again, they must contact her,” he said.

Certain media publications reported the child was sick, but Rabie strongly disputed this, saying they were merely rumours, and that a cough did not signify that the child was sick.

“The crèche called my daughter and when she arrived the paramedics were already there,” he explained.

“The paramedics declared the baby dead.”

The family members are awaiting the results of the autopsy, which they should receive by tomorrow (June 7).

Benoni City Times contacted the crèche for comment, but their attorney said they would not comment until the investigation had been concluded.

An inquest docket was opened at the Benoni Police Station following the baby’s death.

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