Drunk mom’s baby given to social workers

Published Sep 4, 2012

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Cape Town - A Delft infant on medication after being born prematurely four months ago was found on Monday in the care of state social workers after she was reported missing on Sunday.

November Filander, a police spokesperson, said the child’s mother had reported her missing, but it was discovered on Monday that an unknown resident, fearing for the infant’s safety, had taken her to the social workers.

“Some of the residents in the area said the mother was too intoxicated to give an account of what happened to her baby,” Filander said.

The baby will remain in the care of local social workers until an investigation into the parents’ capability to take care of the baby is completed.

Spokesperson for the Department of Social Development, Melanie Koen, said: “We will look at the mother’s fitness to care for the child. We will look for an alternative place of safety for the child and if we discover that the mother abuses any substance we will keep the child away from her, but also seek medical help for her.”

Elsie Isaacs, an administrative worker at a Social Services facility where the child was taken, said a tall women brought the baby to the facility. “She just said that the mother is in no way able to look after the baby and left. I wanted to speak to her but she just dropped the baby in my arms,” she said.

Isaacs said the baby, dressed in a blue babygro and wrapped in a pink blanket, was taken to the local clinic for a medical check-up.

Asked about the infant’s father, Filander said: “There… will be no search for him. We are only investigating the mother.”

Koen said: “At this stage there is no talk of father involved… We are still investigating and if the father is found we will look at his responsibilities and role in the child’s life. Both parents will be investigated.”

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Cape Times

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