Dumped Baby Rescued From Storm Water Drain in Verulam CBD - KZN

[News]

A Biker from Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) who was flagged down in the Verulam Central Business District (CBD) to investigate a strange noise located & rescued a new born baby this afternoon.

Reaction Officer Chris Pillay was stopped on Wick Street at 18:52 (Sunday) by a pedestrian who believed that an animal was stuck in a storm water drain.

When the Reaction Officer searched the area he found a black bin bag stuck near the manhole of a storm water drain.

A child could be seen hanging at the entrance that led to a fall several meters below. The Officer manage to removed the plastic bin bag, rescued the child & radioed for assistance.

RUSA Paramedics arrived on scene and removed wet & soiled clothing from the baby. A dry uniform jacket was placed around the infant girl while she was expedited to Osindisweni Government Hospital (OGH).

A cotton swab was found on the childs arm. Paramedics believe that the she had been recently discharged from a medical facility.

[News]

Update: Mother Arrested For Dumping Of Newborn Baby in Durban - KZN

A 32 year old Foreign National has been tracked down & arrested by Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) approx. 17 hours after she dumped her newborn baby in a stormwater drain.

A Reaction Officer on Bike Patrol on Wick Street in the Verulam - CBD found the girl hanging on the edge of a manhole leading to a two meter drop into a storm water drain. The child was rescued & expedited to a government hospital.

Sunday night, the RUSA Operations Center received an anonymous tip-off from a Medical Facility reporting that the picture of the child that was circulated was similar to a baby that was delivered via caesarean section. Following up on this information & other several leads Reaction Officers began tracking the mother.

Monday morning Reaction Officers established the identity of the woman. It was reported that she is a Foriegn National who moved to South Africa from the Capital City of Maseru in Lesotho two (2) years ago. Futher information was received that the woman intended on fleeing ths country.

Reaction Officers canvassed an area in Hazelmere - KZN & located the woman with the assistance of an informer. She was found in possession of a passport (pictured) belonging her friend. A plastic hospital tag (picture 6) in the name of the child was found in her room.

When interviewed by a female Reaction Officer, the woman explained that she had entered the country illegally in 2022. She left an 11 year old & 5 year old child back in Maseru to seek employment in South Africa.

She was employed as a machinist at a textile business & became pregnant with her third child. During her pregnancy her boyfriend disputed the paternity of the child believing & that she had sexual relationships with other partners.

According to the woman, when the child was delivered the man refused to communicate with her.

She added that she placed the baby in a black bin bag & intended on pushing the baby into the storm water drain. While approaching the drain she threw the baby in the direction of a manhole when a vehicle approached. She then fled the area.

The woman is currently detained on Verulam Cas 183/02/2025 - Child Abandonment.