Infant abandonment rises in Joburg as legal battle over ‘baby savers’ continues

The problem of infant abandonment in Johannesburg was tragically underscored recently when a newborn baby was discovered dumped in a plastic bag on the banks of the Jukskei River, in Alexandra.

Cases of newborns being dumped in open spaces, bins and rivers have been on the rise, a trend that child protection organisations say has worsened since the Department of Social Development began shutting down “baby saver” centres.

The issue has drawn renewed attention since the department declared baby saver boxes illegal in 2023, a decision critics say has left desperate women with even fewer options.

Elizabeth Mokoena, a manager at Alexandra Kidz Clinic and victim support unit at the Alexandra police station, told Our City News that she deals with two or three cases of abandoned babies a month. In most cases, the babies are found dead.

Mokoena said it was unfair for ignorant nurses and social workers to force new mothers to keep their babies when they had stated their wish to give them away.

“This then leads to the mother dumping the baby unsafely, because they have been failed by the nurses and hospital staff. For mothers who want to surrender a newborn baby for adoption in South Africa, you must sign Form 61 in the presence of a Children’s Court official within 60 days of the birth to give your written consent.

“You can also utilise the Safe Surrender option, where you can safely hand over the infant to designated safe persons such as a healthcare provider or first responder without providing your name,” Mokoena said.

Responding to Mokoena’s allegations, the Gauteng Department of Health told Our City News: “Allegations need to be investigated first. Each case has its own merits, therefore investigation to confirm such allegations should be conducted case by case. Doctors are not allowed to discharge the mothers before referral to the healthcare social worker is done and the mother is interviewed.”

The department added that the interview with the mother should happen immediately after referral to reduce the long stay in the health facility that might frustrate mothers who want to leave the facility with their newborns, regardless of their poor socio-economic circumstances.

Furthermore, the department said: “Healthcare social workers in hospitals are responsible for training health professionals in the health facilities in the overall management of child protection, e.g. adoption, orphan (newborn babies of deceased mothers after delivery), abandoned (newborn babies of mothers who abscond after delivery).”

But Mokoena said that women fell pregnant under different circumstances.

“For women who fall pregnant as a result of rape or other traumatic circumstances, these barriers are even higher. The fear of stigma, probing questions and potential legal consequences can make formal routes impossible,” she said.

She added that she recently dealt with a case of a woman who accessed illegal abortion services, leading to her giving birth at home, concealing her birth and burying her baby in the yard.

“This young woman now has a criminal record, a suspended sentence and her life will never be the same. All of this can be avoided if everyone does their job well,” said Mokoena.

‘Violation of the Children’s Act’

In a letter to Baby Savers SA at the end of September 2023, the Department of Social Development said the baby box concept was a violation of Chapter 3 of the Children’s Act, which unpacks the responsibilities and rights that mothers and fathers have towards their children.

“The baby box takes away any form of responsibility of the biological mother to care for the child, and further disregards the future role and responsibility of the biological father,” the letter stated.

Speaking to Our City News, the operations director at the Door of Hope Children’s Mission and the cofounder of Baby Savers SA, Nadene Grabham, said the alternatives offered by the department — such as formal adoption processes, hospital drop-offs, or engagement with social workers — were often inaccessible or impractical for mothers in crisis.

“More often than not, these mommies reach out to social workers, police, nurses, seeking help but instead they get judged, shouted at and even threatened. Just recently a mother gave birth in hospital and asked the nurses to get the social worker as she wanted to give up her baby for adoption.

“The social workers and the nurses told the mother that if she leaves the baby there, she will be reported and arrested. One hospital refused to discharge a mommy unless she left with her baby, even though the mommy and the grandmother gave consent for the baby to go for adoption,” said Grabham.

Door of Hope, a non-profit organisation that rescues and cares for abandoned and orphaned children, cares for 60 children, many of whom came through “baby saver” boxes. A baby saver box is an anonymous way for a parent to give up her child without fear of legal reprisals. Situated at the entrance of such centres, mothers can safely place their unwanted babies in a safe box — which triggers an alarm that alerts staff to the new arrival.

Grabham emphasised that the formal adoption process was lengthy and complicated, requiring multiple visits, documentation and legal steps that many women could not navigate under urgent circumstances. Hospitals and clinics could feel intimidating or judgemental, deterring those seeking anonymity or support. Meanwhile, social workers were stretched thin, particularly in informal settlements and rural areas.

“Accurate figures for the number of infants who are abandoned are difficult to come by. How many abandoned babies do not reach the news headlines? Furthermore, how many abandoned babies are never found? For as long as South Africa has unresolved severe social issues, baby abandonment will continue, so what harm is there to offer an extra safe option as an alternative to unsafe abandonment?” she asked.

In response to detailed questions, the Department of Social Development said: “The department will be publishing the Children’s Amendment Bill. The bill seeks, amongst other important matters, to address the issue of child abandonment. It is advisable to wait until the bill is published.” DM

This story is produced by Our City News, a non-profit newsroom that serves the people of Johannesburg.