Eastern Cape mother arrested for allegedly murdering baby

Police have arrested a 27-year-old woman for allegedly murdering her 11-month-old baby girl in the Eastern Cape. 'It is alleged that on Friday, 5 January 2024, a man went into the bushes at the Nonyevu locality in Port St Johns to urinate when he found the baby in a refuse bag. He alerted the members of the community, and the mother was traced,' the South African Police Service (SAPS) said on Sunday. According to police information, on 29 December 2023 the infant got sick and passed away at about 5am on 1 January 2024. It is believed that the mother wrapped the child with a towel, put her in a plastic bag and threw her in the bushes at Nonyevu locality where she was living at the time. 'The mother was assaulted by the community and is hospitalised. She faces a charge for murder and will appear in the Port St Johns Magistrate Court. A post mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death,' SAPS said. Source: South African Government News Agency