Rasta Park baby dumped: Department calls on new parents to seek help

The Western Cape Department of Social Development (DSD) will render any assistance to the South African Police Services (SAPS) in their investigation into a concealment of birth case opened at the Somerset West police station.

This comes after the community of Rasta Park, an informal settlement in the Sir Lowry’s Pass area, yesterday found the body of a dead new-born baby. The community then alerted the SAPS.

DSD strongly condemns any action which places the lives of babies and children at risk. There is no excuse for the dumping and abandoning of babies & children.

Pregnant mothers and prospective parents need not feel trapped and without options. DSD, in conjunction with other departments and NGO’s, renders a basket of psycho-social and child protection support services to prospective and new parents.

Prospective and new parents can walk into any local or regional DSD office closest to them, and seek the services of a social worker. The department renders services such as family planning, parenting skills classes, family counselling and mediation services, and assessments for social grants (child-support grant).

Our services to prospective and new parents are ongoing, designed to assist children and parents in the crucial first 1000 days period of a child’s development.

The public can contact the department by visiting any local or regional DSD office closest to them, or by contacting the DSD hotline on 0800 220 250.