A local non-governmental organization, Baby Savers South Africa (BSSA) says over 10 000 babies are abandoned in the country annually.
What’s worse is that the vast majority of infants are found dead.
Baby Savers South Africa is part of a national coalition of organizations working to put an end to unsafe infant abandonment.
The organization’s Co-founder, Nadine Grabham explained to SABC News that teenage pregnancies and poverty are some of the main reasons why thousands of babies are abandoned yearly.
“Abandonment is an incredibly complex issue. There can be no excuse for intentionally harming or willfully neglecting any child – but we must realize that there are birth parents in crisis who would rather choose life,” said Grabham.
Petition to legalize Baby Savers SA
The Bayakhanya Foundation NPC in solidarity with the organization has a petition calling for the government to legalise Baby Savers SA so that it can be a safe space for mothers to relinquish their infants.
Grabham said it is of outmost importance for the government to legislate the organization to empower birth parents to choose safe relinquishment instead of unsafe abandonment.
“Babies are brought to us by the police, those that are found alive. We get babies from hospitals. Some babies are left at our door. We also deal with mums that come to us and say, I don’t have food, clothing or blankets. Poverty is a big reason, another big thing is GBV, rape, and teenage pregnancy,” added Grabham.
She encourages mothers who feel unfit to care for their babies to leave them at health care facilities and with organisations like Door of Hope Children’s Missions, instead of resorting to unsafe abandonment.
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South African DJ, Lamiez Holworthy refuses a man who crossed his boundary while she was performing at a show.
The DJ is known to be married to Khuli Chana and they are expecting a baby boy; sadly enough, not all fans get the memo that she’s married. Holworthy loves to dance whenever she’s playing her set, as it’s a medium to cheer the crowd. Learn More
