The mother of a newborn girl reported missing and afterwards discovered in a stormwater drain in Lotus River is in custody.
The local community was shocked to learn of the discovery of the baby’s body on Sunday afternoon, 3 May, around 14:00, on the corner of 2nd Avenue and Antelope Street, bringing the desperate search that had begun the previous day to an end.
Grassy Park police registered a case of child abandonment on Saturday 2 May after the infant was reported missing. An investigation was immediately launched and the 31-year-old woman was arrested. She was in custody when the baby’s body was discovered.
The charge against the woman was changed from suspected child abandonment to murder and she appeared in the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 5 May and was expected to appear again on the 14th for bail application.
The police said the circumstances of the baby’s disappearance and death were still under active investigation.
They appealed to anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward. Members of the public could contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Those wishing to remain anonymous could also share information via the MySAPS mobile application.
People’s Post reached out to the Grassy Park Community Policing Forum for comment but had not received any response before posting.
