A newborn girl was allegedly strangled with a blue hairband, stuffed into a stocking, and left on a pathway in Umhlatuzana, Chatsworth. The baby was discovered by a passerby who noticed a beanie with a bag of blood in it, leading to the discovery of the baby. Claude Subramodey, spokesperson for Amawele Emergency Services, said they were notified about the incident by a resident living next to the pathway on 30th Avenue.
Subramodey stated that paramedics arrived at the scene and found the baby tied tightly inside a baby blanket before it was stuffed inside the stocking. The baby's head, hands, and legs were tied with a blue hairband. Based on the assessment, it seemed that the baby was born about one or two hours before being found. The baby's mouth was open, indicating that she could have been strangled with the hairband and died.
The post-mortem results will confirm if the preliminary assumption of strangulation is correct. The blood found inside the hat was identified as the placenta. Brandon Pillay, spokesperson for the Bayview Community Policing Forum (CPF), expressed deep disturbance over the incident, describing it as a devastating reminder of the crisis facing vulnerable individuals.
Pillay emphasized that a child is not a problem to be discarded and that there are services and organizations available to help mothers in need. He urged the community to ask difficult questions, strengthen early intervention, support vulnerable mothers, and hold accountable those responsible for such acts. Tessa Naidoo, deputy chairperson of the Rapid Response Team in Chatsworth, highlighted the urgent need for a baby-saver facility in the area.
Naidoo stated that a properly managed baby-saver facility could provide a safe and confidential alternative for mothers who feel unequipped to care for their newborns. This would allow the authorities and child-protection organizations to intervene and ensure the baby's safety and future. Until such a facility is established, the community will focus on educating mothers about available alternatives.
Naidoo appealed to local authorities, healthcare services, and child-protection organizations to come together and consider establishing a baby-saver unit in Chatsworth or surrounding areas. She emphasized that every baby deserves a chance at life and that one newborn life lost is one too many. The incident has sparked a renewed call for compassion, stronger intervention, and protection of every child in the community.
The Bayview police are investigating an inquest case, and more than 40 abandoned babies have been rescued in Phoenix, Chatsworth, Verulam, and Tongaat. Community members and organizations are advocating for support due to the rising number of abandoned babies found across Durban.
Key points
- A newborn girl was found strangled with a blue hairband and stuffed into a stocking in Chatsworth, South Africa.
- The incident has sparked calls for a baby-saver facility in the area and greater compassion and intervention to protect vulnerable children.
- More than 40 abandoned babies have been rescued in surrounding areas, prompting concerns about the rising number of such cases.
