The Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) has tracked down and arrested a 32-year-old foreign national just 17 hours after she abandoned her newborn near a stormwater drain in Verulam, South Africa.
A RUSA officer on bike patrol discovered the baby girl hanging on the edge of a manhole on Wick Street, preventing what could have been a fatal two-meter drop into the drain. The infant was immediately rescued and rushed to a government hospital for medical care.
On Sunday night, February 9, 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 and other several leads Reaction Officers began tracking the mother.
On Monday morning, Reaction Officers established the identity of the woman. It was reported that she is a foreign national who moved to South Africa from the Capital City of Maseru in Lesotho two (2) years ago.
Further information was received that the woman intended on fleeing the 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 to 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 and 5 year old child back in Maseru to seek employment in South Africa.
She was employed as a machinist at a textile business and became pregnant with her third child.
During her pregnancy her boyfriend disputed the paternity of the child, believing that she had s3xual 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 and 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.