By Bronwynne Jooste
Staff Reporter
Nurses at Victoria Hospital have named her "Vicky Unknown Monday" because they know nothing about the baby girl who was found in a tog bag under a pile of refuse at a Lotus River rubbish dump.
Grassy Park police spokesman Ian Leibowitz said the baby, who is about eight months old, was found by a resident at about 3pm on Monday while he was disposing of rubbish at the site in Phumlani Village.
"He heard the innocent cry of a baby emanating from a black bag on the rubbish heap.
"After rummaging through the dirt, he discovered the baby in a tog bag, which had been placed inside a black refuse bag."
Police and emergency medical services took her to the Wynberg hospital, where she was treated for dehydration and diarrhoea.
At the hospital on Tuesday, the baby girl sat quietly, her large brown eyes fixed on the nurses.
Her slightly open tiny mouth revealed the beginnings of two small teeth.
The nursing sister in charge, Nozakhe Jonga, said that despite the trauma she had been through, the little girl was doing well.
Vicky weighs only 6.1kg, which is less than the average weight of babies about her estimated age.
Playing with a colourful toy, the baby immediately reached out to Jonga with her little arms outstretched as she neared the crib.
Jonga picked her up, but as soon as she put her back on the bed for a nappy change, the baby cried, her arms again outstretched.
"She likes to be picked up and held. She longs for affection, and is a very sweet baby," said Jonga.
Little Vicky Unknown Monday cannot as yet eat solids, and is being fed intravenously via a drip in her hand.
Dressed in a crawler, she was still wearing the white and brown beaded necklace that was around her neck when she was found.
Leibowitz said police had been shocked by the incident, but were thankful the little girl had been found alive.
"Once the baby is discharged from hospital, she will be taken by Social Services and our investigation will continue," he said.
A case of child abandonment has been registered at the Grassy Park police.
Niresh Ramklass of Cape Town Child Welfare said he was not aware of the incident, but said it was shocking.
He urged anyone with information on the whereabouts of the baby girl's family to contact the Grassy Park police station on 021 700 3900 or the investigating officer, Constable Plaaitjies, on 076 170 5920.