A woman who was turned down for an abortion instead abandoned her unwanted new baby in a city hospital and disappeared.
The woman, who social workers believe is from Langa in Cape Town, applied for an abortion at a Bonteheuwel day clinic.
Cape Town Child Welfare social worker Soyiso Msoki, who is investigating the matter, said the woman was more than 20 weeks pregnant when she applied.
Her application had therefore been rejected, and the medical staff referred her to the antenatal clinic of Somerset hospital in Green Point, where she had to register and was scheduled to give birth.
She gave birth to a baby boy in the hospital on August 20. Shortly afterwards, she disappeared from the ward.
Msoki said: "The child was left without any clothing, and was ready to be discharged."
Msoki, who is based at Cape Town Child Welfare's head office in Athlone, said: "She had given the hospital her address as 55 Mosheswe Avenue, Langa, but when I went to check the address, it was false."
He then placed the child at the Nomzamo Place of Safety home in Langa, and named it Baby Mafenuka.
When home nurse Thelma Nzwane woke up the baby boy on Thursday, his eyes opened wide, he yawned and looked calmly at a Cape Argus news team.
Nzwane said: "He's a very sweet boy, never cries unnecessarily and gained weight fast and is growing nicely.
"Everybody who enters here picks him up, and he just stares at them and smiles without making a big fuss.
"He needs comfort, care and feeding.
"His eating and drinking habits are quite advanced for his age, that's why he's so healthy."
People with information about the parents' whereabouts are asked to phone Msoki at 021 638 3127 during office hours.