A three-month-old baby girl has been found abandoned at a bus station in Milnerton on Monday.
According to the police, a child abandonment case was opened for investigation after the discovery was made at the bus stop at Omuramba Road.
Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana said the baby was taken to a social development facility, at the ACVV Cape Town (Afrikaanse Christelike Vrouevereniging).
“The matter was reported to the Department of Social Development in Milnerton and ACVV Cape Town for a response as they are the organisations who render child protection services in the areas,” said Social Development Department spokesperson Joshua Chigome.
He said it was the first case of baby abandonment reported to the Milnerton local office for the year and child abandonment cases were not often reported to the Milnerton office.
“On average, baby abandonment cases reported to their office would amount to approximately [two] reported cases per year,” he added.
ACVV Cape Town, where the child was taken to, also said they had not received any baby abandonment cases for the year before the current case.
“New Somerset Hospital has in the past been the primary referral agent for baby abandonment cases to ACVV Cape Town,” added Chigome.
He said this would often involve a biological mother who had discharged herself from hospital and not returned to visit the baby.
Speaking to News24, Milnerton Ratepayers’ Association vice-chairperson, Bouwe van der Eems, also said child abandonment was not a common occurrence in Milnerton.
Anyone with information that could assist police in tracing the child’s parents is asked to contact Milnerton police at 021 528 3800.
