Another human foetus has been found dumped in the Phoenix-Joe Slovo area: the third in less than five months.
This is according to the Phoenix Ratepayers’ Association’s Amanda Kemp.
The latest discovery was made in Pisces Road, Phoenix, on Thursday morning at about 7.30am, residents say.
Brenda Simons, a resident in Pisces Road and member of the ratepayers’ association, said that she had heard loud screams in her street that morning.
“I got outside and saw people near the drain, and I also went there. The baby still had the umbilical cord and looked like a full-term baby. It looked fully developed, but, unfortunately, it was already dead. Police and forensics came around 8am and they took the baby away. This is so traumatic and I wish people knew that there are always other ways – dumping a baby is not one of them,” she said.
Ms Simons said the foetus had been at the mouth of the stormwater drain in plain view for all to see.
Residents say the authorities need to act to stop what is becoming a gruesome trend.
In October, a foetus was found in a pile of rubbish on the corner of Mars Way and Freedom Way (“Another foetus found in Freedom Way,” Tabletalk, October 13).
In August, a foetus was found stuffed in a baby-formula tin at an illegal dumping site in Hobe Road, Joe Slovo (“Cops investigate after foetus found in Joe Slovo,” Tabletalk, August 11).
Ms Kemp said the government should step in and educate people on alternative ways to deal with unwanted pregnancies.
“This can’t keep happening where people just dump their babies because they don’t want them. This is very traumatic for the people that discover these babies.”
Maggie van Wyk, a phoenix resident, believes the foetus dumping could be linked to the high number of teen pregnancies in the area, which she felt were, in part, due to too few activities for youth in the area.
“Young people find different ways to use their time when there are no stimuli in the neighbourhood. Some fall into criminal activities like mugging and smoking drugs. While some drink and start experimenting with sex. We need our children to have planned activities here so they can do more constructive things.”
Thobeka Silinga, a Joe Slovo resident, blamed poverty, unemployment and other socio-economic ills for pregnancies that led to unwanted babies.
“People will always question why poor people keep having babies,” she said. “Sometimes the education aspect isn’t there. Some don’t know any better. Sometimes young women don’t know that there are baby drops where they can give the child up for adoption rather than leaving it to die on the street.”
Afrikaanse Christelike Vroueverening (ACVV) is a child-protection organisation where expectant mothers can get the help they need. For more information about the ACVV, email sw1@acvvkoeberg.co.za or sw3@acvvkoeberg.co.za, call 021 511 3001 or search for the organisation on Facebook.
Milnerton SAPS and the Department of Social Development did not respond to questions by the time of publication.
