The Bellville Family Violence Children and Sexual Offences (FCS) Unit is searching for a woman who abandoned a newborn baby at Ubuntu House in Goodwood on Friday June 23.
Social media was abuzz last week after the Pink Ladies, an organisation that deals with incidents relating to missing children, released a flyer showing a woman dropping off the baby at Ubuntu House.
Social worker at Abba Specialist Adoption and Social Services, Elzeth Conradie, is working on the case. She said Ubuntu House is a registered child and youth care centre that provides physical, emotional, developmental and health care for children in the house.
When asked why the FCS Unit was investigating the matter, she said: “Although the baby was left at a safe place with the clear intent to be found by someone, the police still view this as child abandonment and a criminal offence. The FCS Unit is busy with an investigation to try and trace the biological mother or family of the baby.”
When quizzed about how many babies were dropped off at the house each month, she said: “Ubuntu House provides temporary safe care and is registered to have 12 babies in their care at a time. Children are placed there by court orders. This is the first baby that was left there anonymously since the house opened in 2003.”
Ms Conradie said the baby is currently “being well taken care of”.
“I am the assigned social worker to the child concerned. Should the biological mother or family not be found, alternative permanent placement, like adoption, will be considered for the child in question. Should the biological mother be found, Abba will provide her with the necessary counselling and help,” she said.
Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, provincial police spokeswoman, confirmed the incident.
Anyone with information can call the investigating officer Constable Ayanda Dada of the Bellville FCS unit on 021 592 7092 or 082 522 1095.
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