Body of baby found in Komani Park veld
KOMANI police have opened an inquest after a body was found in the open veld near Orange Street in Komani Park with some body parts missing.
When The Rep arrived on the scene shortly after 3.30pm on Wednesday afternoon, there were police and pathology services vehicles on the scene.
One of the two women who live across the street from the scene, said they were alerted to the presence of the body by a man who was crossing the open veld.
“He said there was a dead baby in the veld and at first we did not want to see it,” she said.
“We just called the police and then I went to look after the police had arrived,” said the woman who did not want to be identified.
She said she could not ascertain the baby’s sex but the umbilical cord was still attached. She added some body parts were also missing.
The age of the baby was also not yet known.
Ward councillor in the area Zuko Mandile was also among the first to arrive at the scene.
He said it was very disturbing, unacceptable and sad that a human being could be disposed of like that.
“We appeal to those who were involved in this act, to hand themselves over to the police. We can’t live in such a society. I have been calling the municipality to cut the grass in these open areas and I even gave them the map, but nothing has been done,” a distraught Mandile said.
Residents could be heard talking among themselves about how some had stopped jogging in the area. Some said they were living in fear in their own homes.
The Rep also saw the park in the area which was overgrown with grass and residents said it could easily be a haven for criminals to hide and plan their activities.
Police spokeswoman Captain Namhla Mdleleni, who was alerted by The Rep to the incident, said an inquest docket had been opened.
No recent cases of stolen or missing babies had been reported.