Chris Pillay and another officer with the abandoned baby. Picture: Supplied
A 32-year-old woman was arrested today and charged with child abandonment after she dumped her newborn baby girl in a stormwater drain in Wick Street in Verulam.
On Sunday, Chris Pillay, an officer from Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), was stopped by a pedestrian, who heard noises from a stormwater drain and believed an animal was stuck.
Pillay saw the black bin bag, and removed it only to find a 2.2kg newborn.
“Rusa Paramedics arrived on scene and removed wet and soiled clothing from the baby. A dry uniform jacket was placed around the infant girl, while she was taken to Osindisweni Government Hospital (OGH). A cotton swab was found on the child's arm. Paramedics believe she had been recently discharged from a medical facility," said Prem Balrom of Rusa.
Rusa found the 32-year-old mother 17 hours later.
Staff at a medical centre contacted their offices after the story went viral on social media. They said the baby looked similar to one that was born in their care.
Rusa subsequently found the mother in Hazelmere.
Balram said she was found with her friend's passport and a plastic hospital tag.
“The woman explained that she had entered the country illegally in 2022. She left an 11-year-old and 5-year-old child back in Maseru to seek employment in South Africa.
“She was employed as a machinist at a textile business and became pregnant with her third child. During her pregnancy, her boyfriend disputed the paternity of the child, believing that she had sexual relationships with other partners.
“According to the woman, when the child was delivered, the man refused to communicate with her. She added that she placed the baby in a black bin bag and intended on pushing the baby into the storm water drain. While approaching the drain, she threw the baby in the direction of a manhole when a vehicle approached. She then fled the area."
He said the woman was detained at Verulam SAPS and charged with child abandonment.
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