Safe home sought for abandoned boy

THE TODDLER who was abandoned at Tygerberg Hospital is still being kept at the hospital until social development can find a temporary safe home to place him in.

Sihle Ngobese, spokesman for Social Development MEC Albert Fritz, said: “The child is in good hands at the hospital, where he is being kept safe while social workers through non-government try to find a temporary home.”

The two-year-old boy was dropped at the gates of Tygerberg Hospital on Saturday by an African woman in a Silver Toyota Rav4, according to police spokeswoman, Constable Noloyiso Rwexana.

The boy, who is unable to communicate his particulars, was found by a hospital security guard in one of the parking areas. He has since been left in the care of the local social development officials.

Hospital spokesman Darren Francis confirmed the toddler was not a patient at the hospital.

Ngobese said locating the toddler’s parents or relatives was being handled by police.

Rwexana told the Cape Argus there were no developments to report on and the matter was still under investigation.

However, Dessie Rechner, director at The Pink Ladies, an organisation that helps police track down missing people, said: “All leads are being followed up on.”

Rechner, who has been working closely with the police to help find the toddler’s parent and/or guardian, said it was difficult to locate the child’s parents, but police were doing everything they could. “The child could have been dropped by anyone; we can’t speculate that the person who dropped the child was the mother. “All we want is for the child to be in good care.” The case is being handled by the Bellville Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offence Unit.

Anyone with information can call the investigating officer at 021 592 7092.