A newborn baby girl is believed to have survived approximately 20 hours inside a shopping bag after allegedly being abandoned in a bush in Oakford, Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal.
Members of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) were canvassing the area following the discovery of the infant when they established a possible timeline of events.
RUSA spokesperson Prem Balram said a man and a woman were walking to a local tuck shop when they heard a baby crying from a bush near several houses.
“They entered the bush and discovered the bag. The pair used scissors to cut it open and found the newborn wrapped in a black T-shirt. Her umbilical cord had been cut but was left untied. The placenta was also inside the bag,” said Balram.
According to witnesses, a woman was seen entering the bush on Monday, 12 October, carrying a Woolworths shopping bag. Balram said the sighting had not raised suspicion because people frequently discarded rubbish in the area.
“At approximately 9.45am on Tuesday, 13 October, RUSA headquarters received a call for assistance after a couple discovered the newborn. The couple reportedly followed the sound of a baby crying before locating the infant inside the shopping bag,” said Balram.
Paramedics transported the baby girl to a local government hospital for medical attention. Authorities were also informed of the discovery.
