A baby girl is recovering in hospital after she was abandoned last week in a bush in Eerste River with her umbilical cord still attached.

Baby X

The newborn, named Baby X, was found by a local security watch team, who took her straight to hospital. Staff at the hospital called Project Rahmah, a non-profit organisation, to assist.

According to Zaakirah Mohamed, founder of Project Rahmah, when they received the call, her team did not hesitate to jump into action.

“No hesitation. We were going to do everything within our capacity to make sure this baby had what she needed to begin her life. We immediately went shopping for her baby toiletries and I reached out to the Tableview and Blouberg moms’ groups that I am part of. The response was overwhelming. Mothers stood together for a child they had never met. They donated clothes, blankets, nappies, pacifiers, towels and so much more. They reminded us that sometimes, community is the difference between someone feeling forgotten and someone knowing they are not alone,” says Mohamed.

Blessed

When she went to the hospital to deliver the items, Mohamed says she was blessed with the opportunity to hold the baby for a little while.

“I told her that she was born on purpose and for a purpose. That she is loved. That there is a community of people supporting her and praying for her. That her beginning does not have to define her ending. She was one of the calmest and most beautiful babies I have ever seen.

“I cried from the moment I laid eyes on her until we left, not only because of what had happened to her, but because of everything this experience forced me to confront. I work with women who have experienced trauma every day. I also come from a background of trauma myself, and while nothing can excuse leaving a helpless baby in the bushes, we have to be honest about the society we have created.

“We cannot only ask, ‘How could a mother do this?’ But we also have to ask: What happened to that mother before she reached that point? Was she afraid? Was she alone? Was she being threatened? Was she carrying shame that did not belong to her? Did she believe that telling the truth would destroy her family? Did she feel that she had nowhere safe to go?” says Mohamed.

She says we may never know the full story.

“But we do know that a society which teaches girls to protect the family’s reputation at the expense of their own safety is failing them. A society that makes young women feel that pregnancy, abuse, trauma or difficult circumstances must be hidden is failing them. A society that only responds after tragedy, instead of creating safe spaces before tragedy happens, is failing them.

Daughters over public opinion

“We need families to choose their daughters over public opinion. We need homes where difficult truths can be spoken without fear. We need communities where women can ask for help before desperation becomes their only option, and we need to understand that compassion does not mean condoning harm. It means being willing to look beyond the action and ask what pain, fear or hopelessness may have existed before it,” she says.

In a passionate plea on Facebook, Mohamed asked expecting mothers not to abandon their babies. “If you’re expecting a baby and feel that you may be unable to care for your baby, please send us a private message. We’ve partnered with trusted baby homes where your baby can receive love, care and protection. You don’t have to face this alone.”

If you would like to gift Baby X any essential items or baby items to make her journey easier, please send a WhatsApp to 068 562 7558.
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