A Gugulethu woman has been arrested after she admitted to dumping her newborn baby in the canal at Barcelona informal settlement in Gugulethu last week.
The SAPS Diving Unit has searched the canal but has not yet found the body.
One of the neighbours, who asked to remain anonymous, said the woman had gone to the clinic after giving birth. When clinic staff questioned her about the baby, she eventually admitted what she had done.
“She said she put the baby in a plastic bag and threw it in the river. We are shocked,” said the resident.
Barcelona informal settlements residents were shocked to learn about a baby which had been dump at the river by one of their community members
Image: SIYAVUYA KHAYA
Ward 40 councillor Bongani Ngcombolo said this isn’t the first time something like this has happened in the area.“This is sad. Women must stop dumping their babies. If they don’t want them, they can go to social workers. There are many places where they can leave children safely,” he said.
Mr Ngcombolo added: “Family planning is free. If people don’t want kids, they must go to the clinic. Maybe the babies they dump could have been future leaders.”
Captain FC Van Wyk, SAPS provincial spokesperson, said Gugulethu SAPS have opened a concealment of birth case. Police interviewed the woman, and she pointed out the spot near a primary school in NY112 where she threw the baby.
“She told the doctor she was pregnant, aborted the baby and threw it in a canal near her home,” said Colonel Van Wyk.