A newborn girl who survived 20 hours in a discarded shopping bag sparked outrage and discourse surrounding the scourge of child abandonment in Tongaat and Verulam.
Speaking to Tabloid Newspapers, social work supervisor at the Verulam Child and Family Welfare Society, Mala Pather highlighted the complexity of this issue that has been a recurring tragedy in the community.
“When a new-born is abandoned, our immediate reaction is often shock and anger. We ask how could anyone leave a helpless baby behind? Every child deserves protection, love and the opportunity to live. But perhaps, alongside our outrage, we need to ask ourselves some difficult questions. Are we doing enough to support women facing crisis pregnancies? Do vulnerable women know where to turn when they feel frightened, alone or unable to care for a child? Are we creating communities where asking for help is met with compassion rather than judgement? These questions do not excuse child abandonment. They remind us that prevention requires more than condemnation.”
Poverty, fear, stigma, rejection, and a lack of support could leave people feeling that they have nowhere to turn, as Pather has observed in her 20 year career at the Verulam Child welfare. She emphasised that society at large must ensure that help is accessible, women are educated about their options regarding their reproductive health, as well as pre and post natal care resources that are available to the public.
Pather added that child protection was not the responsibility of social workers alone. Families, schools, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and government services all have a role to play in identifying vulnerability and offering support before a crisis became a tragedy.
She said: “To every woman who feels alone: If you are facing an unplanned pregnancy, feeling overwhelmed or believing that you have nowhere to turn, please know that you are not alone. Asking for help is not a sign of failure. There are people who can listen and help you explore your options. Please do not suffer in silence. Reach out to someone you trust, a social worker or a child welfare organisation.”
KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) faces a severe baby abandonment crisis. In the last week, Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) reported three cases of child abandonment and endangerment in Tongaat and Verulam, including the incident of the newborn in a shopping bag.
Upon discovering the infant, spokesperson Prem Balram established a possible timeline of events.
He said: “While heading to a nearby tuckshop, a man and woman heard the child’s cries and followed the sound, locating the bag. They cut it open with scissors, revealing a baby wrapped in a black T-shirt alongside the placenta. Her umbilical cord was cut but untied. Rusa was then called for assistance. On arrival, paramedics examined the newborn and found her to be in good health.”
According to witnesses, a woman was seen entering the bush at approximately 2pm the previous day carrying a shopping bag. The sighting did not raise suspicion, as people frequently discarded rubbish in the area.
Rusa reported that it had dealt with two other separate cases in October involving allegations of single mothers urging their children to end their lives during disputes over finances and a lack of support from the children’s fathers.
Balram said that in the first incident, two sisters, one a minor and the other a teenager, were reportedly repeatedly encouraged by their mother to end their lives. The alleged remarks followed a separation and disputes over the lack of financial support from their father. The sisters reached out to reaction officers, fearing that one of them might eventually attempt to take her own life.
In a separate incident, a single mother allegedly gave her minor son an ultimatum to either generate an income or end his life. The child’s father was reportedly blamed for the separation and his alleged failure to provide financial support.
KZN has been consistently flagged by the Department of Social Development (DSD) and organisations like BabySavers SA and Door of Hope as an epicentre for infant abandonment. For the 2024/2025 financial year, the DSD recorded 525 cases of child abandonment, with KZN accounting for 92 cases. According to SAPS quarterly crime data, KZN recorded extreme levels of violence against children within a single 90-day window from April to June this year; 23 were murdered, while 62 attempted murders and 781 rapes were reported.
To report child endangerment, abandonment or to seek help, the Verulam Child and Family Welfare Society can be reached on 032-533-1046/7.
The Peace Agency operates a baby line on 083-069-9067, which serves as a critical resource for at-risk mothers. The agency distributes essential donations, such as baby supplies, clothing and food parcels, to support struggling local families in and around Durban.
Widow and Single Parents (WASP) is a dedicated organisation that provides hot meals, daily bread, clothing, medical supplies and monthly food hampers. It can be contacted on 084-474-6669.
