A shocking incident unfolded in Verulam on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast when a newborn baby girl was discovered abandoned in a stormwater drain. Authorities have since arrested and charged a 31-year-old woman with child abandonment following this heartbreaking discovery.
According to KZN police spokesperson Robert Netshuinda, the baby was found by a concerned member of the public who quickly alerted the authorities. Emergency services responded swiftly, ensuring the infant was transported to a hospital for urgent medical observation.
The suspect was later traced to her residence in the Hazelmere area of Verulam, where she was taken into custody. She is expected to appear before the Verulam Magistrate’s Court soon to face the charges against her.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) played a critical role in the rescue. A RUSA officer was flagged down by a pedestrian who initially suspected that an animal was trapped in the drain. Upon investigating, the officer discovered a black bin bag wedged near a stormwater manhole. What he saw next was chilling—a tiny baby dangling precariously at the entrance, just moments away from falling several meters below.
Without hesitation, the officer removed the bag and rescued the infant before calling for additional assistance. Determined to find the mother, RUSA circulated the baby’s picture, which led them to crucial information confirming the child had been recently born. This breakthrough allowed them to track down the woman responsible.
When questioned by a female RUSA officer, the woman revealed distressing details about her situation. She admitted to entering South Africa illegally in 2022 and shared that she has two other children, aged 11 and 5, who remain in Maseru. She recounted how she became pregnant while working in a textile factory, but when she informed the baby’s father, he denied paternity and severed all contact with her.
Alone and desperate, she allegedly decided to abandon the baby. She confessed to placing the newborn in a black bin bag and attempting to push her into the stormwater drain. However, as she approached, she was startled by an approaching vehicle. Panicked, she hastily threw the infant in the direction of a manhole before fleeing the scene.
The incident has sparked widespread shock and concern, with many calling for stronger support systems for vulnerable women facing similar crises. The rescued baby is now in safe hands, but the case serves as a grim reminder of the harsh realities some individuals face and the dire consequences of desperation.
