THE Mecklenburg police are searching for the mother of a newborn baby girl, who was found abandoned next to a dam at Madifahlane village on September 24.
According to Mecklenburg police spokesperson, Const Elias Setati, the mother will face charges of abandonment and child neglect charges upon arrest.
The baby girl was found wrapped in a tablecloth by a passer-by.
According to the police, the passer-by was alerted by the baby’s cries and took her to the station.
Named “Baby Refilwe” by her rescuers and nurses at the Mecklenburg Hospital, the newborn was found cold and dirty. She is currently being cared for by the nurses at the hospital. Aaron Lekwadi, a social worker at the hospital, said the baby was doing well.
Lekwadi said if the mother could not be traced, the baby would be placed in foster care for adoption.
“We will wait two or more weeks before we decide on her future because we don’t have proper facilities to look after her,” he said.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the mother can contact Maj Martin Seabi at (015) 615 0204 or 076 918 5331.
The police urged parents who did not want their babies to take them to a place of safety or to put them up for adoption.