Newborn baby girl found abandoned in Manenberg

The tragic discovery of a lifeless newborn baby girl, with her umbilical cord still attached, has left the community of Manenberg reeling.

Brigadier Jayce Naidoo, the station commander at Manenberg SAPS, said that an inquest was opened after the infant was found on the side of the road on Tuesday afternoon.

Naidoo confirmed: “On Tuesday June 24 at 2.35pm, Manenberg SAPS was called to the corner of Orion Road and Turfhall Road where an unidentified body of a newborn baby girl, with umbilical cord still attached, was found on the grass patch of the walkway.

“An inquest has been opened for investigation. No arrests have been made.”

Manenberg Community Policing Forum (CPF) Chairperson Vanessa Adriaanse told the Cape Argus sister publication, the Daily Voice that the community is devastated by the loss of the innocent child's life. 

She added that there are plenty of organisations offering help to struggling mothers.

Adriaanse says: “We are devastated and disappointed because there is a lot of assistance and help. I myself cannot understand why another mother would go to that extent even though we do understand that poverty and social issues cause one to make certain decisions.

“In Manenberg there are a lot of organisations and shelters to assist moms. It also shows that once again due to social issues it results in people making certain decisions, but that does not give a mom an excuse to do such things.”

Anyone with information can contact Manenberg SAPS 021 699 9400 or crime stop 0860010111.

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Cape Argus