A baby boy from the Khayelitsha informal settlement in Bloemfontein was rescued from a pit latrine by the Mangaug Fire Brigade and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel on Thursday afternoon.
According to Free State Department of Health spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, the child was abandoned and left for dead by his mother. Community members heard the baby’s cries and quickly alerted EMS, who arrived at the scene shortly after.
“Fortunately EMS responded quickly and the child was rescued. He has been in our care at the Pelonomi Neonatal High Care Unit since his rescue,” Mvambi said.
Mvambi said the newly appointed MEC of Health in the province, Montsheng Tsiu, spent the better part of Thursday evening at the hospital to check up on the boy who is slowly recovering from the ordeal. Tsiu was joined by Pelonomi CEO, Baesi Ramodula and Martha Caroline Molefe who is Pelonomi Hospital’s Head of Nursing.
“The lovely bundle of joy is in good hands and has been attended to by social workers in order to facilitate a process of adoption when the baby is fully recovered,” Mvambi said.
Meanwhile, the mother of the child was arrested and has already appeared in court. – Pulane Choane
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