The Department of Social Development is investigating the deaths of two babies at a foster home in Pinelands in Cape Town.
“Both babies died on Tuesday morning. According to the SAPS, there were no visible marks on the babies, and a post mortem will indicate the cause of death,” said spokesperson Bruce Oom on Wednesday.
The babies, a boy and a girl, were being cared for at a recognised temporary home refuge for abandoned children.
Oom said the foster parent, Jenny Berger, had been screened and approved by the department. Berger had nine children under her care and was fostering three children.
“Mrs Berger checked the female child at 7am on the morning of 31 May 2011, and when checking again at 7.45am, noticed something was wrong. The ambulance and police were called, and arrived within 15
minutes.”
Oom said a social worker was sent to the site to investigate. The department was also communicating with the police.
The two-month-old baby girl was found abandoned when she was only three days old. Little information was known about the boy at this stage, he said.
Minister Bonginkosi Madikizela was scheduled to visit the home on Wednesday. -
Sapa