The baby was found last Wednesday wearing a pink tracksuit, wrapped in a plastic bag. (Jamie Grill/Getty Images)
- Last week, a newborn baby was found wrapped in a tracksuit, in a plastic bag and in a freezer in Kutloanong, Free State.
- A shocked landlord called police after making the discovery in a rental home.
- The baby’s 24-year-old mother turned herself in to police but was later released because her case was not placed on the court docket.
Police are investigating a case of concealment of a birth after the frozen remains of a newborn were found in a freezer in a rented hut in Kutloanong, Free State.
Police spokesman Captain Stephen Thakeng said the discovery was made last Wednesday by a landlord who found the baby wrapped in a pink tracksuit and in a plastic bag.
Thakeng said the landlord immediately called the police.
“The mother, who rented the hut, was nowhere to be seen and [police] searched everywhere [for her]On September 12, she surrendered herself and was charged with concealing her birth.
“She was unable to appear in court in Odendaal on Monday, September 16, because the case was not on the agenda,” said Thakeng.
The mother has been released and an investigation has been launched, with DNA samples being collected and tested, after which the case will be returned to the court roll.
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Mathabo Leeto, MEC of the Free State Department of Social Development, urged parents who do not want to keep their children to contact the department for advice.
“We urge civil society organizations, non-profit organizations, men’s sectors, youth and women’s organizations, churches and others to stand up against all forms of violence against children and report every incident. [of suspected] abuse.
“The Department of Social Development encourages communities and/or parents to contact our offices where social workers can guide and assist them with available interventions such as adoptions instead of committing such heinous crimes against babies.
“We believe that every child has the constitutional right to grow up in a family,” Leeto said.
She pleaded with the community to cooperate with authorities in investigating the incident.
Noxolo Sibiya
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