The Ilitha Labantu organisation is deeply concerned by the discovery of a newborn baby in a drain in Delft on Wednesday 19 August.

Second baby

The baby was the second newborn found in a week on the Cape Flats after another newborn was found on Sunday in Hanover Park.

Siyabuleka Monakali from Ilitha Labantu says the incident is deeply disturbing and raises serious concerns about the circumstances that can lead to the abandonment of a newborn, as well as the broader social conditions that must be considered when seeking to prevent such tragedies. “Incidents such as these must be treated with the seriousness they deserve, and difficult circumstances cannot be used to excuse the abandonment or death of a newborn,” says Monakali.

According to Monakali, there are organisations, social services, and safe alternatives available to women who are unable or unwilling to care for a child, and greater awareness of these options is essential. “At the same time, we must examine the broader circumstances that may place women and girls in crisis, including unintended pregnancies, sexual violence, rape, coercion, fear, stigma, and lack of support. Understanding these factors is not about excusing criminal conduct, but about strengthening prevention and ensuring that people know where to seek help before a situation reaches this point.

Social context

“It is important that incidents of this nature are also considered within the broader social context in which they occur. Social indicators such as poverty, unemployment, social isolation, limited access to support services, gender inequality, exposure to violence, stigma, and inadequate support networks can influence vulnerability during periods of crisis. However, these incidents cannot be viewed as a problem confined to communities experiencing socioeconomic hardship. Newborn abandonment is a societal issue that can occur across different social and economic circumstances, and it should not be reduced to assumptions about poverty or the community in which an incident takes place. Highlighting these social indicators is not about attributing blame to a particular community or suggesting that socioeconomic circumstances determine such actions. Rather, it is about understanding the range of factors that can contribute to vulnerability and identifying where prevention, education, support, and intervention can be strengthened,” says Monakali.

According to Monakali, Ilitha Labantu remains committed to working alongside communities, government and other stakeholders to strengthen violence prevention, education and awareness, improve referral pathways and promote environments where women, girls and children are protected, supported and able to access help when they need it.

Concealment of birth

According to police spokesperson Sergeant Wesley Twigg, the Delft police have registered a case of concealment of birth following the discovery. “The circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation, and no arrests have been made,” says Twigg.

Anyone with any information about this incident can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.

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