The community of the Bluff in southern Durban has been left shocked and outraged following the discovery of an infant’s body near Brighton Beach.
A passerby made the grim discovery in bushes on Wednesday afternoon and immediately alerted authorities. Police said the infant was found wrapped in a burned towel, and an inquest docket has since been opened.
Ward 66 councillor Zoe Moore said the incident has deeply unsettled residents and raised serious concerns about awareness of safe alternatives available to desperate mothers.
“On the Bluff, not even four kilometres away, we have a baby saver where this child’s life could have been saved and preserved,” Moore said.
“Although I do have compassion for a mother who feels unable to care for an unwanted child, there is still a massive outcry from the community for justice to be served. The baby did not deserve to die, especially in such a terrible way and in such a public place,” she added.
Police investigations are ongoing as authorities work to establish the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death.