Verulam, KZN – A shocking case of child abandonment has gripped the community after a 32-year-old foreign national was tracked down and arrested by Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) just 17 hours after allegedly dumping her newborn baby in a stormwater drain.
The harrowing discovery was made by a vigilant RUSA Reaction Officer on bike patrol along Wick Street in Verulam CBD. The officer noticed a baby girl clinging to the edge of a manhole, which led to a two-meter drop into the stormwater system. Swift action was taken to rescue the helpless infant, who was immediately rushed to a government hospital for urgent medical attention.
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Anonymous Tip-Off Leads to Mother’s Arrest
The breakthrough in the case came when the RUSA Operations Center received an anonymous tip-off from a medical facility. Hospital staff recognized the widely circulated image of the abandoned baby, linking it to a child delivered via caesarean section just hours before. Acting on this crucial lead, RUSA officers launched an intensive investigation to track down the mother.
Early Monday morning, officers successfully identified the suspect—a woman who had moved to South Africa from Maseru, Lesotho, two years ago. Intelligence reports revealed that she was planning to flee the country to avoid arrest.
Tracked Down in Hazelmere
RUSA operatives, assisted by a trusted informer, zeroed in on a location in Hazelmere, KZN, where they found the woman in possession of a passport belonging to a friend. Inside her room, authorities also discovered a plastic hospital tag bearing the name of the abandoned child, further implicating her in the crime.
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The Chilling Confession
During an interview with a female RUSA officer, the woman admitted to entering South Africa illegally in 2022. She left behind her two children, aged 11 and 5, in Lesotho, hoping to secure employment in the country. She found work as a machinist in a textile business, where she later became pregnant with her third child.
However, her boyfriend vehemently denied paternity, accusing her of infidelity and refusing to support her. Feeling abandoned and desperate, the woman claimed she made the heart-wrenching decision to dispose of her newborn. On the fateful night, she placed the baby in a black bin bag and attempted to push her into the stormwater drain. Startled by an approaching vehicle, she hurriedly tossed the baby towards the manhole and fled the scene.
Legal Consequences Await
The suspect has been formally detained and charged with child abandonment under Verulam Cas 183/02/2025. Authorities continue to investigate, and she is expected to appear in court soon.
The community remains in shock over this horrific act, but thanks to the swift and diligent efforts of RUSA, justice is on its way. The rescued infant remains under medical supervision as social services work towards securing her future.
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