**Incident in Verulam, KZN**
A 32-year-old woman has been arrested by Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) for abandoning her newborn baby in a stormwater drain in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal. The arrest followed an anonymous tip-off from a medical facility, which led officers to the mother approximately 17 hours after the baby was found.
**Discovery of the Abandoned Baby**
The distressing incident unfolded on Sunday when a RUSA reaction officer, Chris Pillay, was flagged down while on bike patrol in Wick Street, Verulam CBD. He was alerted to a strange noise coming from a nearby stormwater drain. Upon investigating, he discovered a black bin bag stuck near a manhole, with a newborn baby girl hanging dangerously on the edge, just meters away from a two-meter drop.
“The officer managed to remove the plastic bin bag, rescue the child, and radio for assistance,” said Prem Balram, RUSA’s spokesperson.
## **Rescue and Medical Care**
RUSA paramedics promptly arrived on the scene, removed the baby’s wet and soiled clothing, and wrapped her in a dry uniform jacket to keep her warm. The baby was then transported to Osindisweni Government Hospital for medical care.
**Tracking Down the Mother**
Following an anonymous tip from a medical facility, reaction officers were able to locate and apprehend the mother. During an interview conducted by a female reaction officer, the mother revealed that she had become pregnant while working as a machinist at a textile business. She claimed that her boyfriend denied paternity, which led her to the desperate decision to abandon the child.
## **Legal Consequences**
The woman, who is originally from Lesotho, is currently in police custody at the Verulam police station. She faces charges related to child abandonment. Authorities continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the case.
This shocking incident has once again highlighted the issue of child abandonment in South Africa, sparking discussions on the need for better support systems for struggling mothers.