NATIONAL NEWS - A 32-year-old woman was arrested by Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) after allegedly dumping her newborn baby in a stormwater drain in Verulam, KZN.
According to an article published by The Witness, Prem Balram, Rusa’s spokesperson, says the mother, who is from Lesotho, was tracked down and apprehended approximately 17 hours after the incident.
Balram says the drama unfolded yesterday when a reaction officer on bike patrol on Wick Street in Verulam CBD was flagged down to investigate a strange noise.
When he searched the area, the officer, Chris Pillay, found a black bin bag stuck near the manhole of a stormwater drain, with a baby girl hanging on the edge, just meters away from a two-meter drop.
“The officer managed to remove the plastic bin bag, rescued the child and radioed for assistance.”
Rusa paramedics arrived on scene and removed wet and soiled clothing from the baby.
The stormwater drain where the baby was found. Photo: Rusa
He says the baby was then wrapped in a dry uniform jacket and taken to Osindisweni Hospital.
Balram says an anonymous tip-off from a medical facility led them to the mother.
During an interview with a female reaction officer, the mother explained that she had become pregnant with her third child while working as a machinist at a textile business. However, her boyfriend disputed the paternity of the child, and she claimed she was forced to abandon the baby.
The mother has been detained at the Verulam Police Station.
She faces charges for dumping her newborn baby in the stormwater drain.
The rescued baby. Photo: Rusa
The mother was arrested and faces a child abandonment charge. Photo: Rusa
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