Newborn survives after being dumped in pit latrine
DUMPED in a pit latrine, a newborn baby miraculously survived the first hours of its life despite spending them at the bottom of the outside toilet.
After giving birth to the child on Thursday, the young mother reportedly ‘did not want it’, and threw it down the latrine at eNtumeni Reserve in eShowe.
The mother is said to work as a domestic worker at the homestead.
After hearing intense cries from the toilet, the family where she works notified the Umlalazi Fire & Rescue team who rushed to the scene to save the infant. According to Umlalazi Local Municipality, the rescue mission was not an easy task.
‘When the team arrived at the scene, a concrete seat prevented them from entering the latrine.
‘A solid toilet seat had to be demolished to create a way for firefighters while still preventing all materials from dropping into the pit and harming the newborn,’ said Umlalazi communications manager Mkhuseli ‘Chaos’ Buthelezi.
Good teamwork saw concerned officials present pitching in to lower the firefighter into the longdrop toilet with a rope and heaving him out with the infant. After the rescue mission, the infant was rushed to eNtumeni Clinic.
uMlalazi Mayor Cllr Thelumoya Zulu applauded the quick response by the rescue team, the police and all structures.
‘Good co-operation between all structures was able to save the baby’s life and we thank them for their hard work,’ he said.
A case has been opened at Mbongolwane SAPS.