Inspectors, bus drivers hailed as heroes

TWO Metrobus drivers and two Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) inspectors have been hailed heroes for saving an abandoned baby in Joburg.

Johannesburg mayco member for transport Nonhlanhla Makhuba and mayco member for public safety Michael Sun commended Metrobus drivers Samuel Phumane and Mashudu Mavhutha together with JMPD inspectors Marius Bolsen and Kinsane Maswanganyi for their heroic deeds after they saved an abandoned baby boy on Saturday evening.

“We are grateful for the observant, quick and caring reaction of Phumane and Mavhutha. They have gone beyond their duties as just bus drivers… they are the true heroes of our city,”said Makhuba.

“It is through them that ubuntu is kept alive. We may not know the reasons why the baby was abandoned, but because of them this little person now has a chance at life.”

Makhuba said that from the hospital records produced by the mother, it showed that the baby was only born on Friday morning and had not yet been given a name.

The Metrobus drivers noted the suspicious behaviour of the mother and followed her, and saw her finally abandoning the baby on the corner of Rissik and Pritchard streets.

The two JMPD inspectors were able to arrest the 20-year-old mother moments after the baby was abandoned on the street.

Mavhutha and Maswanganyi took care of the baby until he was handed over to child protection services.

“We met with Phumane and Mavhutha and inspectors Bolsen and Maswanganyi to thank them personally for their heroic deeds and expressed our gratitude to them for being such outstanding citizens… We are truly grateful,” said Makhuba. – African News Agency (ANA)