Police are yet to make any arrest after a baby was found dumped in Somerset West last week.
The tragic discovery was made in the early hours of last Thursday (27 October).
According to Sergeant Suzan Jantjies, spokesperson for Somerset West police, authorities were called to the scene in Belvedere Road around 04:00 after a blood-stained carrier bag raised the concern of a security officer patrolling the area. On closer inspection he found a lifeless naked infant – a fully developed baby boy – in the bag.
Somerset West police opened an inquest docket following the discovery of the body of the baby, estimated to be around 12 weeks old, and are calling on anyone with information to contact the investigating officer, Detective Sergeant Berchille Allies, on 021 850 1344.
Sandy Immelman, founder of the Helderberg Baby Saver, expressed her dismay in light of the alleged dumping incident that occurred a mere stone’s throw from the Somerset West facility last week.
The saver acts as a last port of call for help and hope by enabling the safe abandonment of an unwanted baby.
“This tragic incident reaffirms how important it is that we continue to raise awareness of the Helderberg Baby Saver available for desperate folk as a last resort,” Immelman said.
It is a special safe built into the side wall of the Choices Crisis Pregnancy Centre in Schapenberg Road and offers an option of safe relinquishment.
When a baby is placed in the safe an alarm is triggered and appointed respondents, including security officers and emergency personnel, collect the infant.
The response is linked to child protection organisation Wandisa, which sees to the statutory processes.
In September the saver, launched in August 2014, celebrated giving a 10th baby a chance at life. Following its establishment it was used for the first time in October 2015, when Baby Ayabonga was placed in the special safe (“Baby named,” DistrictMail, 15 October 2015).
The heart warming success story was followed by a relinquishment in 2017 (“Newborn gets a chance at life,” 9 November 2017), two in 2018 (“Baby saver works again,” 26 April; “Fourth newborn benefits from ‘saver’”, 4 October), one in 2019 (“Another cherub placed in ‘saver’,” 11 July) and one last year. Five babies have been placed in the safe this year: Baby Ava (“Yet another baby saved,” 10 March), Baby Ruby (“Baba Ruby vorder goed,” 21 April), Baby Nathan (“Baby Nathan underscores ‘safe abandonment’,” 1 June), and Baby Thabo (“A saving chance for baby boy,” 7 September).
“Our saver is available 24 hours a day and is anonymous,” explained Immelman.
“Any baby placed in our saver is taken to a local hospital and placed in temporary safe care while legalities are completed.”
She added that Baby Savers South Africa (BSSA) will continue to fight for children’s right to life.
“We appeal to girls and women to access contraception and counselling when needed, to boys and men to respect women’s rights and reduce rape statistics in our country, and to families, communities and social workers to assist and empathise with unwanted or crisis pregnancies, providing all options without judgment or bias,” Immelman implored.
“Lastly, if someone finds themselves desperate and considering dumping their baby please rather turn to the baby saver for safe relinquishment and choose to give your baby a chance at life.”
V For more information on the Helderberg Baby Saver, visit www.babysaver.co.za and www.babysaverssa.co.za.
