A ten-month-old baby girl was dumped in a bush while her parents partied at different locations in Osindisweni – KZN.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) received a call from a resident in the area this morning (Sunday) requesting assistance after the infant’s mother arrived at their residence to claim the child.
Reaction Officers were dispatched to the area and on arrival met with angry residents who explained that the child was located by a passerby in overgrown vegetation next to a tavern in Osindisweni – KZN last night.
At first glance, he presumed that the baby was deceased as she appeared unresponsive. Upon closer investigation, he realised that the child was asleep. He sought assistance from a female at the tavern however she was heavily intoxicated. The man then decided to hand the baby over to his mother for safekeeping.
The child’s 16-year-old mother arrived at her residence this morning to collect her baby after hearing of the incident however members of the community refused to hand her over. They then contacted RUSA for assistance.
Reaction Officers interviewed the teenage mother who explained that she was attending a house party in the area and asked her 30-year-old boyfriend to babysit. He allegedly proceeded to the tavern with the baby and at some stage abandoned her in a bush. He has not been located since.
The mother & child were handed over to the South African Police Service (SAPS) for further investigation.