Kimberley - The body of what appears to be a newborn baby was found dumped with medical waste at Kimberley’s municipal dump site on Wednesday.
Scavengers at the Sol Plaatje dumping site came across the body of the baby lying amongst what appeared to be medical waste from the Kimberley Hospital.
Witnesses said the baby was in a black bag and was lying amongst medical waste, including drip bags, empty medicine bottles and protective medical clothing, most of which appeared to be from the paediatric unit at the Kimberley Hospital.
Several tablet containers and packets had the hospital’s name, as well as the ward (Pediatrics L1 Ward) and the date, which was February this year, on them.
A recycler working at the dump said that they heard someone screaming as several groups of people rummaged through the waste for salvageable items.
“A truck carrying medical waste dumped the stuff here this morning (on Wednesday) between 11am and 1pm.
“After they dumped the waste, the recyclers ran over to see if there was anything that could be salvaged.
“We then heard a scream and a group of people gathered around a plastic garbage bag.”
He added that the baby’s body, which appeared to be full-term and was properly formed, was lying on its side.
“The baby, which looked like a newborn, was big and pink in colour, with no hair.”
He added that empty medicine bottles, used latex gloves, dirty nappies and used sanitary towels surrounded the baby’s body.
“One could see that it was not a foetus as it was big and looked like a newborn baby that had just died.
“One of the men fetched a box, placed the body in it and covered it with a blanket,” the witness said.
Sol Plaatje Municipality spokesman, Sello Matsie, declined to comment, pending an investigation.
He added that the municipality would work with the police and engage the Kimberley Hospital to seek clarity on the matter.
Northern Cape Department of Health spokeswoman, Lulu Mxekezo, said they will investigate the matter.
“The department confirms that medical waste at all facilities is dumped at a central collection point. The service provider responsible then collects the waste and takes it to an approved incinerator. Medical waste is clearly marked and not combined with domestic waste. Therefore, medical waste is not disposed of like domestic waste.
“The department will thoroughly investigate the allegations and implement appropriate action if needed,” Mxekezo said.
Police spokesman, Lieutenant Olebogeneg Tawana, on Wednesday confirmed the incident.
“The police can only confirm at this stage that a foetus was found at the dumping site in Kimberley.
“The investigation is still ongoing and no further details can be provided at this stage,” Tawana said.
In January this year, the Auditor-General was approached to scrutinise payments made by several provincial health departments, including the Northern Cape, to medical waste removal companies.
Tshenolo Resources was awarded a tender for the removal of medical waste in the Province in 2013. The company was owned by Northern Cape and North West businessman Wandile Bozwana, who was gunned down in a hail of bullets near the Garsfontein off-ramp near Pretoria in October last year.
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