PHUTHADITIJHABA – A livestock shepherd made a distressing discovery of a newborn baby boy who had been abandoned near a riverside drainage location on Sunday afternoon.
It is alleged that on Sunday, 15 February at approximately 16:12, the shepherd was tending to his grazing cattle when he heard a baby crying. Upon investigating, he discovered a newborn baby boy wrapped in a blue fleece blanket and lying abandoned near the drainage channel.
Police and Emergency Medical Services were immediately summoned to the scene. The baby was rushed to a local hospital for urgent medical treatment, as the umbilical cord was still attached.
The identity of the biological mother or suspect is currently unknown. The matter has been referred to the Phuthaditjhaba Family, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit. A charge of attempted murder is being ivestigated.
Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact Lieutenant Colonel Jwalane Rasunyane of Phuthaditjhaba FCS on 079 890 0383 or call Crime Stop on 086 001 0111. All information will be treated with strict confidentiality.
