Durban - People from the area where six foetuses were discovered by children this week say there should be a thorough investigation because an illegal abortionist could be operating there.
This is after the gruesome discovery of the foetuses in bottles at an illegal dump site at Mariannhill’s Desai area on Monday afternoon.
Resident, Simon Xaba, said it was hard to believe the foetuses had been kept for a long time.
The former police officer said when he got to the scene, one of the jars was broken and there was blood.
“If the foetuses were preserved and had been kept in the jars for a long time, why would they bleed then? It doesn’t make sense. There should be a thorough investigation because I believe there could be someone running an illegal abortion practice in the area,” he said.
Zandile Jobe, a nurse who lives in the area, said the jars were not similar to those used in medical facilities.
She did not know what to make of the mystery.
“This is strange. What I do know is that it was a health hazard for children and adults who search for ‘valuables’ at the dump site,” she said.
Childline said parents should warn their teenage girls about the consequences of unplanned pregnancies.
Dumisile Nala, national executive officer of Childline, said although she did not have details of the dumped foetuses, women, particularly teenagers, should plan for their children.
“Teenage pregnancy should be discussed before and after birth so young mothers can take better decisions for themselves,” Nala said.
Resident Nthabiseng Maduna said her 13-year-old son who had discovered the items at the dump, came running back home shaking.
“He was shocked, trying to tell me what happened,” Maduna said.
Stan Jewaskiewitz, president of the Waste Management of Southern Africa, said “a ‘dump’ does not signify that it is a proper licensed disposal facility, normally referred to as a landfill site (licensed in terms of the National Environment Management), which is not allowed to receive such waste”.
Jewaskiewitz said medical waste should either be treated by incineration (pathological waste), autoclaving or hydroclaving (infectious wastes).
“The disposal or dumping of foetuses on a landfill is therefore illegal. They should have been treated by way of incineration.
“The dangers of disposal of medical wastes on a landfill can lead to a variety of diseases, such as hepatitis C,” Jewaskiewitz said.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesman, Colonel Jay Naicker, said an inquiry had been opened.
“It is alleged they were found in medical storage jars in an open area near an old doctor’s surgery.
“The doctor has passed away and the community alleged that someone was seen recently cleaning up the premises. No arrest has been made and the investigation is continuing,” Naicker said.
The site had been cleared of the medical waste by on Wednesday and no further dumping was seen by workers at the neighbouring concrete brick manufacturing company.
Chris Archer, the chief executive of the South African Private Practitioners Forum, said the incident was an outright criminal matter.
He said if a member of their forum was found guilty of such an act, he/she would be expelled right away.
Daily News