A 26-year-old mother of five children has been arrested for allegedly dumping her newborn a few hours after giving birth.
Tandzile Kunene from Magengeni around Buhleni is alleged to have dumped the baby boy at Mkhuzweni Health Centre on Friday night two weeks ago.
The baby was discovered by an employee of the health centre who was passing by when he heard the baby crying. It is alleged that when the man went to check, he found the baby naked without any clothing and he swiftly called the police and notified the hospital’s nurses who quickly took the baby to the hospital for checkups.
The woman has since appeared before Pigg’s Peak Magistrate’s Court where she was remanded into custody. She was however granted bail fixed at E3 000 which she has not yet paid.
According to a source close to the matter, the accused left her house at around 8pm on Friday and was seen by some family members. She is alleged to have returned later at night.
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It is said the accused delivered the baby by the river in Magengeni and proceeded to dump him next to the staff quarters at Mkhuzweni Health Centre. She is alleged to have gained entry to the premises through a fence and then dumped the naked baby.
The source stated that the accused was later arrested after investigation by the Buhleni Police. Her actions are said to have left both the community and her family in shock.
The accused is alleged to have disclosed to her family that the father of the baby was from Mawombe around Buhleni.
