Hermanus Child and Family Services says the baby found in the
sewerage system should act as a wake-up call, urging people to reach out to
those experiencing difficulties.
“We are living in perilous times,” said David Duncan, HCFS
chairman. “Life can become too difficult, especially when there is no one to
turn to. People often turn a blind eye to someone in trouble — especially when
that person has done something wrong in society’s eyes. Prostitution also often
leads to the challenge of unwanted babies.”
Instead of judging the person, he said, one should place oneself
in the other person’s shoes. “Have we ever placed ourselves in the shoes of
someone who is pregnant and has no place to sleep, nothing to eat and no-one to
turn to without being rejected?”
Duncan pointed out there are a number of institutions in the
Overstrand offering help to those who feel they are unable to care for their
unborn baby. This includes Hermanus Child and Family Services in Malva Street,
Mount Pleasant (028 313 0830) and Badisa (028 312 3909).
Every welfare office has a social worker who knows what the
procedures are to arrange for adoption. Pregnant women can also approach their
local clinics for advice and assistance.
The first step in the adoption process is to contact a
social worker or adoption agency. This implies the mother will sign off her
parental rights towards the child. She will need the biological father’s
consent. If the father is unknown an advertisement must be put in a national
newspaper for three months to trace the father’s whereabouts. If there is no
reply the child can be registered as an adoptable child.
Duncan confirmed there is no “drop-in centre” for unwanted babies
in Hermanus, and no known safe place for pregnant mothers to stay while they
are pregnant. The closest facility where women can leave their babies at a safe
place to be put up for adoption is Helderberg Baby Saver in Somerset West.
Mandy Lea-Jones at Helderberg Baby Saver can be reached at mandy@save all.co.za
or on 082 563 2712.
In the Cape Agulhas region women can contact the Bredasdorp ACVV
offices on 028 424 1450, Child Welfare on 028 424 1580.
Lana O’Neill of Heavenly Promise in Bredasdorp says most of the
cases of child abandonment occur outside office hours. “It’s not ideal, but the
mother can also wrap the baby up warmly and leave the child on the doorstep of
someone they trust who can then contact the police and social services,” she
stated.