A 19-year-old student will appear in court for concealment of birth on Monday after an alleged illegal abortion in Butterworth, Eastern Cape police said.

Captain Jackson Manatha said the Walter Sisulu University student was allegedly four months pregnant when she took tablets to abort on Friday.

"The abortion was successful as she gave birth to a stillborn baby boy on Saturday at 1am. She then wrapped up the foetus and threw it in the dust bin outside her block of residence on the university premises."

A security guard found the foetus on Sunday morning.

The 19-year-old was arrested and will appear in the Butterworth Magistrate's Court. - Sapa