Cape Town - Western Cape
Social Development MEC Albert Fritz said his department’s officials would conduct their own investigation into the death of a 2-month-old baby found at a house in Elsberg Court in Elsies River.
Police said the infant girl was found on Wednesday morning.
“We condemn this tragic incident in the strongest terms. We were made aware of this incident yesterday (Wednesday),” said Fritz.
“There are allegations that the mother of the baby was on drugs and had left the baby at her grandmother’s place. We will investigate this and bring all the evidence to the police for their own investigations. We want to see if this is a case of child neglect.”
He said he was concerned about the number of infants’ deaths in the province.
“In this week there was a child found in a blocked drain by municipal workers. This cannot continue. We say to young mothers who do not want their babies – come forward – and we will see how we can assist them,” Fritz said.
Police spokesman Tembinkosi Kinana said: “The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation. Police have opened a inquest docket.” He said no one had been arrested.
Elsies River community leader Rashaad October said he heard about the incident, but would not comment.
On Monday, a Khayelitsha mother was charged with the murder of her 2-month-old baby girl and was denied bail.
Vuyelwa Ndinga of Site C appeared in the Khayelitsha Magistrate’s Court after the baby was found in a hole at the back of a shack where she lived.
Cape Times