Baby boy – only a few hours old- found abandoned in public toilet

A baby boy, believed to be only a few hours old, was found lying wrapped in a blanket next to a toilet in Rustenburg CBD.

THE BABY BOY WAS FOUND WRAPPED IN BLANKET

According to ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring, the baby boy was found abandoned in a public toilet in a small shopping centre off Thabo Mbeki Road in Rustenburg CBD.

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“ER24 paramedics arrived at 17:00 on Tuesday after a cleaner had found the boy lying near a toilet,” he said.

THE BABY BOY IS BELIEVED TO BE ONLY A FEW HOURS OLD

Meiring said on closer inspection; paramedics found a boy, believed to be only a few hours old, lying wrapped in a blanket next to a toilet.

“Assessments showed that the boy showed no signs of injury. The child was transported to a private hospital in Rustenburg for further care,” he said.

THE CIRCUMSTANCES WILL BE INVESTIGATED

The relevant authorities were on the scene for further investigations.

DESPERATE MOTHERS URGED NOT TO DUMP THEIR BABIES

“Abandonment of infants in South Africa is, unfortunately, a common occurrence.

“Many of these children are left to die, or simply abandoned, in dustbins, open fields, public toilets, or on train tracks,” The Door of Hope organisation said.

The organisation knew that something needed to be done

ALSO READ: Watch: Desperate pregnant mothers begged not to dump their babies

“In 1999 the Berea Baptist Mission Church said, “something needs to be done”. Under the leadership of Pastor Cheryl Allen, the church made a hole in their wall and a ‘Baby Box’ was installed allowing for mothers to leave their babies any time day or night for the church to take care of them,” the organisation said.

The moment a baby is placed, care workers on duty receive an electronic signal alerting them. The baby is taken in and the anonymity of the “donor” is ensured.