Aborted babies dumped around city

South Africa. April 11, 2003

By Elisha Ramnundall

Police are to investigate allegations that abortion clinics are encouraging women to dump the bodies of their aborted babies in refuse bins in and around the city.

For months now, dozens of foetuses have been found in open spaces, rubbish bins and the latest grisly find was in a toilet at the corner of Gardiner Street and West Street in central Durban yesterday afternoon.

Police spokeswoman Supt Vasie Naidu said such cases were on the increase.

"Investigations will be started to establish exactly why there is such a growing increase and, if any clinic is breaking the law, they will be prosecuted," said Naidu.

Social and community workers have complained that women go to clinics to have abortions and once the procedure is completed, the women are allowed to go home and are given a plastic bag.

It is alleged they are told that when they are about to abort their baby, they should do so into the bag and throw them in refuse bins in the streets.

Yesterday's find of a 32-week-old foetus became yet another statistic.

Dr Timothy de Klerk pronounced the baby dead at 4.45pm.
Witness Pinkie Zwane, who found the baby, said she entered the toilet and saw a yellow packet. "When I opened it, I found the baby and immediately alerted the police," she said.

Sgt Vinod Ramdeo from the Workshop Crime Prevention Unit, who was the first to arrive on the scene, examined the packet.

"I opened the packet and wrapped in paper was a tiny pink figure with a head and little feet," he said.

Police Sgt Thembeka Luthuli said they were aware of an increase in abandoned foetuses.

"Mothers who don't want their babies should contact social workers who can give them solutions," she said.
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