GEORGE NEWS - A 21-year-old woman was arrested for attempted murder and child neglect after her three-day-old was found naked and dumped in a pit toilet on Tuesday 17 September at Mandela Village in Thembalethu.
The baby boy was discovered by a member of the community who was passing by and heard the baby crying inside the toilet.
The man found the baby naked with a clinic card next to him. The witness called the Thembalethu police who responded swiftly. Paramedics were also called to the scene. By the time the discovery was made, the baby was already suffering from trauma and hypothermia.
He was immediately transported to hospital where he was admitted for emergency medical treatment.
According to Southern Cape police spokesperson Capt Malcolm Pojie, the witness also found shredded pieces of what appeared to be a birth certificate, which led them to the mother of the baby.
When police arrived at the residence they found community members had already apprehended the mother. They then handed her over to the police.
"The vigilance of the witness has definitively saved the boy from certain death. Further investigation and medical records revealed that the mother gave birth to the boy on 15 September at the George Hospital. They were discharged on Tuesday 17 September.
"Thereafter they went home and seemingly the mother deserted the boy of only three days old in the pit toilet," said Pojie. The suspect is scheduled to appear in the George Magistrate's Court today, 19 September.
The George Family, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit is investigating the matter.
Women who face challenges during their pregnancy, are advised to attend counselling, so they may be in a sound state of mind when they deliver their babies and know how to care for the babies once they are born. Options Care Centre in George will help you go through unplanned pregnancy and offer various options on the way forward. Options is situated at 54 Albert Street, and can be contacted on 044 874 7414.
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