Newborn girl rescued after being found in plastic bag in Doornfontein veld

A newborn baby girl was rescued late on Monday night after she was found abandoned inside a plastic bag in an open veld in Doornfontein, Johannesburg.

How the infant was found

Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers were alerted to the sound of a baby crying near the intersection of Saratoga Avenue and Hadfield Street at about 11:43pm, when members of the public flagged them down.

Officers from the Rea Vaya Unit conducted a search of the nearby open veld and located the infant.

Immediate response and condition

According to the JMPD, officers Maseko JM, De Jager MV and Malivha NS secured the baby and called for emergency medical assistance.

The infant was taken to the Hillbrow Clinic, where medical staff examined her and declared her to be a healthy baby girl.

Police action and next steps

After the medical examination, the baby was taken to the Hillbrow South African Police Service (SAPS) station, where a child abandonment case was opened.

Police said the child has been placed in temporary care at a registered welfare facility while investigations continue.

JMPD statement and appeal

The JMPD commended the responding officers, saying their “immediate action undoubtedly saved a precious young life, and we applaud them for their exemplary performance and dedication to protecting the most vulnerable in our society.”

Police have appealed to anyone with information about the baby’s mother or the circumstances surrounding the abandonment to come forward.