“It can’t be.”
This is the thought that went through Mariska van Tonder’s mind when she was called outside her house where a one-month-old baby was found in her dustbin in between the rubbish on Monday (28 February).
She was inside her house in Russell Street, Paglande, when she heard Joseph Rose and Charlmain van Wyk calling her to alert her of the cry that came from a white plastic bag in her dustbin.
“I saw the plastic bag move slightly and I knew that there was definitely something in there.”
Van Tonder says that when she took the plastic bag out, the baby boy was already starting to turn blue. The baby boy, who was fighting for his life all alone in that dustbin was wrapped in a white towel.
“I took him inside the house and rubbed him gently on the back just for ventilation. Slowly but surely he started getting his colour back and was crying.”
“That put me at ease because it confirmed that his lungs were working,” she adds.
The Paglande woman then alerted authorities who arrived on the scene at approximately 15:30.
Van Tonder shares that the whole ordeal was surreal.
She also told Standard that large groups of people regularly walk past her house every day, as it is situated quite near to both hospitals in the town, so she did not notice anyone standing by her dustbin.
Van Tonder contacted the hospital on Tuesday to find out about the baby’s well-being and they confirmed that he is in recovery and has been placed in foster care.
Speaking on the baby’s age, Van Tonder was shocked to learn that police reports estimated the baby to be a month old.
“I thought he was younger but then again, I was in shock.”
“Another thing that stood out was that his nappy was clean, so the mother must have changed him before she dumped him.
“I know one should not judge but there are no excuses for something like this. There are many avenues one can explore than to just throw their baby away. It’s inexplicable.”
The good Samaritan also took to Facebook to share her experience with her friends. She relates the events of the day in a heartfelt message. After managing to bring the baby back to life, she writes: “Thank you God. Thank you for grace.”
And end off the message with the words: “The Lord knows who to choose.”
