Recyclers at the Rietfontein Dumping Site in Ekurhuleni were shocked to find two newborn babies in garbage bags on Tuesday.
The babies’ bodies were discovered in the trash unloaded by municipal trucks in the morning.
Lindiwe Dlamini, a recycler, told Scrolla.Africa: “My friend found the first baby and was in shock. I confirmed it was a baby boy, and we called our leaders, who then informed the guards and police,” she said.
Gauteng SAPS spokesperson Lieutenant Mavela Masondo said: “One baby boy was found with the umbilical cord and placenta still attached. It’s unclear if he was alive when dumped.”
While waiting for the government mortuary van, a second baby was found 20 metres away.
“The second baby seemed recently born as it still had a faint heartbeat,” Masondo said.
The police are investigating but have not made any arrests.
Dlamini has seen many disturbing things since she started working at the dumping site in 2005, but finding dead babies is very upsetting.
“Dumping the body doesn’t make it disappear. Recyclers still find them, and it’s a traumatic experience. The government needs to educate women [about safe abortions] to protect us from this,” she said.
