Durban - Berea SAPS are investigating a case of concealment of a birth after a baby was found by a homeless man across the road from Musgrave Centre on Monday.
It was reported that a newborn baby was found by a homeless man on Musgrave Road across the road from Musgrave Centre.
“The baby was wrapped with a towel, put inside a pillowcase and inside a plastic packet,” said a Facebook post.
The Facebook post also said the police were at the scene and took down statements.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Nqobile Gwala said that on Monday, at 8.20am, police received a complaint of a concealment of birth on Musgrave Road in Berea.
“Upon their arrival at the scene, police noticed the body of an infant wrapped in a towel and coloured sheet. A case of concealment of birth has been opened at Durban Central SAPS for investigation,” Gwala said.
Reacting to the incident, Isiaiah 54 (Open Arms) founder Glynnis Dauth said more baby safes were needed, but because they were illegal and it was something they were fighting.
Dauth said they needed the government to help and to listen to what the people were asking for.
Baby safes were a safer option for desperate mothers to abandon their babies instead of dumping them.
Dauth said the Musgrave area was becoming a hotspot because of all the universities and students in the area.
“But with baby safes, we need to know who is opening one because some people could use it for trafficking,” Dauth said.
“We need to put baby safes in safe places but also hotspots.”
Commenting on the Facebook post, this is what people had to say:
Christy Nicole Holmes: “Very sad that she had nowhere she felt she could go. I would have taken that baby in a heartbeat.”
Taryn Hunkin: “How could anyone do that to their baby? She could have left the baby at a baby home or hospital, but instead opted to literally throw her baby away. It's heartbreaking!”
Mary-Ann Strydom Rodda: “This makes me so angry. Where's our humanity disappearing? The mother should be charged with murder. This has happened too often.”
Nikky Felgen: “So many unkind comments. Imagine how desperate and hopeless the poor mother feels. She is going to live with this for the rest of her life!! It’s very easy to comment glibly when you are comfortably seated on your sofa, scrolling through social media on your smartphone, while your meal is cooking away in your oven!!! Never judge until you have walked in someone’s shoes!!!”
Gerry Williams: “This makes me so angry and sad ...family planning is free, no need for this tragic sad news.”
Bernadette Karam: “Wow… she could have gone to the hop shop in Davenport. They have a baby dropbox and put the baby in....”
Isabel MacTavish: “We need more drop boxes around the most common place where these babies are found.”
Daily News