Authorities in Bloemfontein, Free State, are intensifying efforts to locate a teen mom who abandoned her newborn baby at a Mangaung hospital.
Story Summary:
- Police are searching for a 16-year-old mother who abandoned her newborn at a Bloemfontein hospital.
- A case of child neglect has been opened as authorities urge the public to assist with the investigation.
- Safe and legal adoption options are available for mothers unable to care for their children.
Bloem police cast wide net for teen mom wanted for child neglect
The baby boy was discovered by a social worker in an empty ward on Tuesday, 30 October 2024.
According to police reports, the mother had given birth and was discharged on the same day.
“The child was found abandoned in one of the empty wards at a hospital in Mangaung,” spokesperson Sergeant Mahlomola Kareli confirmed in a statement.
When attempts to verify the parents’ addresses failed, the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offenses Unit took over the investigation.
Sergeant Nthabiseng Ranthako, who is leading the case, has called on the public to assist in identifying the teen mother.
In South Africa, abandoning a child can lead to severe legal consequences.
Child neglect is a criminal offence under the Children’s Act of 2005, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment.
The law defines neglect as a failure to provide for the child’s basic needs, including food, shelter, and medical care.
Giving your child up for adoption in South Africa: Here’s what you must know
Women facing circumstances that make it impossible to care for their child have legal avenues to relinquish parental responsibility without breaking the law.
In South Africa, the adoption process is overseen by the Department of Social Development.
Parents who wish to give up a child must approach an accredited adoption social worker or agency.
These professionals assist in ensuring that the child is placed in a safe, caring home.
The process includes the following steps:
- Consultation: The parent meets with a social worker to discuss their situation and the implications of adoption.
- Consent: A legal consent form must be signed before a child is placed for adoption. In cases involving minors, the court ensures that the decision is made in the child’s best interest.
- Placement: The child is placed with adoptive parents through an accredited process.
There are also Safe Haven laws in place, allowing mothers to leave a newborn at designated safe locations such as hospitals, police stations, or welfare organisations without facing legal action, provided the baby is unharmed.
Authorities urge individuals in distress to consider these options rather than resort to abandonment, which endangers the child and has serious legal repercussions.
