A newborn baby boy, believed to have been only hours old, was found abandoned near a shopping centre in Gqeberha after being left in the cold in a red Shoprite carrier bag.
The tiny infant was dressed in warm clothing and handmade knitted booties when a community member discovered him on Spondo Road on 22 August at about 6.30am. The person immediately alerted the police, who rushed to the scene and arranged for the baby to receive medical attention.
The baby was taken to Dora Nginza Hospital, where he was examined and treated. He is now being cared for in a place of safety while police investigate who left him behind and search for his mother.
A child abandonment case has been opened at the Algoa Park police station. Detectives are appealing to the public for information that could help identify the woman who gave birth to the boy, establish what happened before he was found and possibly reunite the child with his family.
The circumstances surrounding the discovery have raised concern in the community. The baby was found alone near a busy area, placed inside a red Shoprite carrier bag and left with only the clothing and items wrapped around him to provide protection from the cold.
According to a police report, the newborn had been neatly wrapped and was wearing a white-and-pink fleece top with a cartoon figure labelled “Sophia”. He was also dressed in a cream-and-grey double-breasted fleece pea coat and had a pair of handmade knitted booties.
A Big Five pillowcase was also found with the baby. Police are hoping that the clothing, the pillowcase and the location where he was discovered may help detectives find someone who knows the child or recognises the items.
Police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse van Rensburg said the baby was discovered by a member of the community, who alerted law enforcement after finding him on Spondo Road.
She said the infant was taken to Dora Nginza Hospital for medical attention and was later placed in a place of safety.
The baby’s condition was not detailed in the supplied police information, but authorities confirmed that he received medical care after he was found. Police are now working to trace his mother and determine whether anyone else was involved in leaving him near the shopping centre.
“Investigations and enquiries were conducted in the surrounding area, but no information was obtained that could assist detectives in identifying the person responsible.
“The SAPS appeals to the community to come forward with any information that may assist in reuniting the child with his family and establishing the circumstances surrounding his abandonment,” Janse van Rensburg said.
The investigation is expected to include enquiries in the area where the child was discovered. Detectives may speak to residents, shop workers, security personnel, motorists and anyone who was near Spondo Road during the early hours of 22 August.
Police will also need to determine how long the baby had been left outside before he was discovered and whether anyone saw a woman carrying or placing the red carrier bag near the shopping centre. Information about a vehicle, a person walking in the area or unusual activity around the time could be important to the investigation.
The clothing could also assist detectives. The white-and-pink fleece top, the cream-and-grey pea coat, the knitted booties and the Big Five pillowcase may be recognised by someone who knows where they were bought or who saw the baby with them before he was abandoned.
Members of the public are being urged not to spread unverified claims about the identity of the mother. Police are asking people with real information to report it directly so that detectives can assess it and follow the correct legal process.
The case has also placed attention on the vulnerable position of newborn babies and mothers who may be struggling after giving birth. The reasons behind the abandonment remain unknown, and police have not provided details about what led to the child being left outside.
Until the mother is located, investigators will have to work carefully to establish the full circumstances. They will need to determine whether the baby was left by his mother, whether someone else abandoned him or whether another person may have knowledge of the child’s birth and whereabouts.
The child is currently safe and receiving care, but the investigation remains urgent. Police want to locate his mother both to establish what happened and to understand whether there are concerns about her health or safety.
The community member who found the infant played an important role by contacting the authorities quickly. A baby left outside in the early morning could have faced serious danger from the cold, traffic, animals or other hazards. The discovery allowed police and medical staff to intervene and ensure that he was taken to hospital.
Residents near the shopping centre are being encouraged to come forward if they saw anything suspicious. Even a small detail, such as a time, a description of a person or a vehicle, could help detectives build a clearer picture of the baby’s movements before he was found.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Detective Sergeant Jason Kivedo on 078 959 1727.
Information can also be provided to Crime Stop on 08600 10111, at the nearest police station or anonymously through the MySAPS application.
Police have not announced any arrests. The search for the baby’s mother and the investigation into the child abandonment case are continuing.
For now, the newborn boy remains in a place of safety, having survived a frightening start to life that began in a carrier bag near a Gqeberha shopping centre. Investigators are appealing to anyone who can identify the clothing, recognise the baby or explain what happened before his discovery to come forward.
The answer may be waiting with someone who saw the red bag, noticed a woman in the area or heard information that has not yet reached police. Detectives are urging that person to speak up so the little boy’s family can be identified and the full circumstances of his abandonment can be established.
