Baby dumping incidents are on the increase
JOHANNESBURG - There has been an increase in baby dumping crime in the past year, however the police stated that there is a solution.
A dead infant was found by ER24 paramedics in a refuse bin along Bothma Street in Honeydew, adding a number to baby dumping crime.
“The paramedics were called to the scene by a security guard who had been standing next to the refuse bin. When paramedics inspected the bin, they found an infant no older than a month. The baby was declared dead when no signs of life were evident. The Honeydew police were present to investigate,” said ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring.
Ruth Nkosi a social worker at Hotel Hope Ministries, a children’s shelter in Melville said, “Communities need to learn about the adoption. Personally, I do not think the mothers who leave the children in dumpsters are bad mothers. This was their last resort. Fathers need to take responsibility for the action and support the mothers.”
Eleanor Dustan, founder of the Light House Baby Shelter in Sundowner said, “Should women find themselves with an unwanted babies, instead of leaving the child in a refuse bin they could come to us for advise or, leave the child in our Moses Basket. We would then find a home for the child while they stay with us,” advised Dustan.
Linden police spokesperson constable Ndivhuwo Mulamu said leaving a child in a refuse bin is a criminal offence. “Should the baby be found alive, we take it to the district surgeon then take the baby to a place of safety. If the suspect who dumped the baby is identified, the suspect is arrested for child neglect or abandonment,” said Mulamu.
Mulamu stated that police are aware of the high increase in baby dumping incidents and their social crime prevention unit has joined the social services to launch various awareness campaigns in order to fight this criminal act.
Rene Testa founder of the Barnswallows Baby Shelter in Roodepoort said, “Our shelter is trying to change society one baby at a time. The change needs to be a community effort to prevent such crimes.”
Details: Barnswallows Baby Shelter 011 675 3756; Hotel Hope Ministries 011 484 4000; Light House Baby Shelter 011 795 4207; Crime Stop 10111.
