Baby dumping worries Dukwi Kgosi

Pini Bothoko | Wednesday May 20, 2015 11:59

He told Mmegi that he is worried that since March, two babies have been found dumped in the village.The second case happened last Thursday when a two-month-old baby girl wrapped in blankets was found dumped in the bush on the outskirts of Boiteko ward. Tlwaelang said that recently the village was left in shock after a week-old toddler’s body was found half eaten by dogs in the same ward. “This is the second incident in a short space of time and it worries us as the village leadership because baby dumping is illegal and morally wrong,” he said.

People who discovered the baby said they heard something crying throughout the night but thought it was a cat. “They said that in the morning while the crying sound continued, they become suspicious and followed the voice until they found a toddler alive and wrapped in blankets in the bush,” he said. The matter was reported to the police who took the child to the village clinic.

The baby was later transferred to Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital where she is currently. Tlwaelang said that investigations are ongoing to locate the mothers of both toddlers. “I have asked for the public’s intervention in helping the police with the search because we want to stop cases of this nature in our village,” he said.

Neighbouring villages of Nata, Mosetse and Kutamogoree have been roped in the search for the mothers. “We believe that involving neighbouring villages might help as the mothers may have come from elsewhere and dumped the babies in Dukwi,” said Tlwaelang. He said the concerned mothers must be arrested to face the law so that others can learn from them and realise that baby dumping is illegal and not welcomed in society.

Tlwaelang said it is difficult to trace the mothers because the village has many people from elsewhere who are looking for jobs at the Mowana Mine.

“We are also hit by an influx of illegal immigrants who are jobless especially females who are believed to be engaged in prostitution in our village. I do not know if they could be the ones dumping their kids thinking they will disturb their illegal trade?” wondered Tlwaelang. He pleaded for the public’s support in making sure that the people who disgrace the village are arrested.

Dukwi Police Station commander, Superintendent Goitsemang Mokgatle has said they have not made any arrests in the two cases of baby dumping in their jurisdiction.