A one-day-old baby girl was found dead in a stormwater drain in Lotus River, Cape Town, on Sunday afternoon, according to the South African Police Service (SAPS), as reported by SAPS. The mother, a 31-year-old woman, was arrested on charges of child neglect after she allegedly lost track of her newborn baby following discharge from hospital on Saturday.
The mother and her baby were last seen travelling in a taxi from Retreat to Lotus River, where they got off at the corner of 4th Avenue and Buck Road. However, the mother allegedly returned home without the newborn baby, whose whereabouts remained unknown until the tragic discovery on Sunday.
Investigation Underway
The circumstances surrounding the disappearance and death of the child are under investigation by the Grassy Park police. The mother remains in custody and is expected to appear in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court once she has been charged.
A family member said that before the mother was arrested, she seemed to be losing her mind and could not remember everything correctly. The family had tried to get her to remember where she put the baby, but to no avail.
Sequence of Events
The sequence of events leading up to the discovery of the baby’s body is as follows:
- The mother and her baby were discharged from hospital on Saturday.
- The mother and her baby travelled in a taxi from Retreat to Lotus River.
- The mother and her baby got off at the corner of 4th Avenue and Buck Road.
- The mother allegedly returned home without the newborn baby.
- The baby’s body was found in a stormwater drain in Lotus River on Sunday afternoon.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with many calling for greater support for new mothers and their families.
