ABANDONED BABIES SOAR IN GAUTENG

The number of abandoned babies found alive in Gauteng has soared from 49 cases in 2007 to 138 cases last year.

This is revealed by Gauteng Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

According to Mazibuko, these babies were found at hospitals, open fields, parks and rubbish bins. These figures are from case dockets opened at police stations concerning the incident of concealment of birth.

There were 355 live abandoned babies in total from 2007 to 2010. For the same period there were 468 dead abandoned babies that were found, but the trend was largely steady, with 102 cases in 2007 and 115 cases in 2010.

Only 33 arrests were made for all these abandoned babies, dead or alive. Drug and alcohol abuse are identified factors causing abandonment, as well as new mothers who cannot cope with the responsibilities of a new born baby.

It is very sad that the gift of life is so disregarded that babies are thrown away in such large numbers. Mothers need to know that there are alternatives to abandoning their babies, including "hole in the wall" centres where a baby can be left safely.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom, MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, July 11 2011

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