A newborn girl was rescued from a stormwater drain in Verulam, KwaZulu-Natal, after a Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) officer discovered her wrapped in a black bin bag on Sunday evening. The incident led to the arrest of her mother, a 32-year-old Lesotho national.

Rusa officer Chris Pillay responded to what was initially reported as a trapped animal at 18:52 local time (16:52 GMT). He found the infant suspended several meters down the drain shaft and immediately executed the rescue.

Paramedics treated the baby at the scene, removing contaminated clothing and providing emergency care before transporting her to Osindisweni Government Hospital. A cotton swab on her arm indicated recent hospital discharge.

Rusa spokesperson Prem Balram confirmed the mother’s arrest 17 hours after the incident, following a tip from medical staff who recognized the infant from circulated photographs.

The mother, who entered South Africa illegally in 2022, worked as a machinist at a textile company. She left two children in Maseru, Lesotho, before becoming pregnant in South Africa. Her partner denied paternity of the newborn.

“We live in a society where many mothers feel unsupported, leading to crippling depression and loneliness,” said Youandi Gilain, director of Isaiah 54 Children’s Sanctuary. “These emotions can become so unbearable that, tragically, some mothers feel their only option is to abandon their child.”

Jo Teunissen from The Baby Home in Durban North emphasized the need for preventive measures. “While we cannot condone such actions, we must address the systemic issues that failed both mother and child,” she said.

Child welfare organizations across South Africa are calling for increased support systems for vulnerable mothers, emphasizing community involvement and early intervention to prevent similar incidents.