Kimberley - The mystery surrounding the discovery of a dead baby, apparently dumped with medical waste from the Kimberley Hospital at the Sol Plaatje Municipality’s landfill site on Wednesday, deepened on Thursday.
A company contracted to remove garden waste from the Kimberley Hospital on Thursday denied any knowledge of medical waste.
The owner of the company confirmed that he was contracted to collect and dispose of the garden waste from the Kimberley Hospital.
Read: Baby’s body found at dump
“We do not collect medical waste... we do garden services. Our job involves collecting bags with garden waste.”
He added, however, that his employees did not check what was inside the bags before dumping them.
Recyclers at the site found the baby lying amongst several medicine containers and used drips, carrying the hospital’s name and the ward number, as well as dirty nappies and used sanitary towels.
Sources said on Thursday that the body of the baby boy was already in a state of decomposition, with the umbilical cord still attached, when it was found.
Recyclers said they found the baby lying on its side inside a black bag.
The Department of Health indicated on Thursday that it has launched an investigation into the matter.
“The Northern Cape Department of Health confirms that the medical waste at all facilities is dumped at a central collection on the premises of the facility,” Department of Health spokeswoman, Lulu Mxekiso, said.
“The service provider collects it from the central point and disposes of it according to strict, stipulated protocols of disposing of medical waste.
“The Environmental Health Unit, together with all relevant stakeholders, is dealing with the investigation.
“Following the findings of the investigation, appropriate action will be implemented to mitigate any adverse effects on the environment and to reduce any risks to human health.”
The identity of the baby remained a mystery on Thursday.
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