Acting North West provincial Police Commissioner, Major General Patrick Asaneng, has condemned the abandonment of a 14-month-old baby in Tigane near Hartbeesfontein. The baby girl was found crying in front of a yard after being allegedly left by her parents. 

The 21-year-old mother and 26-year-old father were arrested following the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, December 23, 2024. They appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court, where their case was postponed to February 5, 2025. Each parent was granted bail of 300 Rand. 

Police spokesperson Colonel Adele Myburgh confirmed that the baby has since been placed in the care of a relative by the Department of Social Development. 

According to initial police investigations, the parents left their baby at home to visit a nearby tavern. The mother later sent the father to retrieve the child, but he allegedly left her on the street after being chased by unknown individuals. When the parents couldn’t find their child, they reported the incident to the police and were arrested. 

#sapsNW A 21yr-old mother and 26yr-old father appeared before the Klerksdorp Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 24/12, for the alleged neglect of their 14-month-old baby girl in Tigane, close to Hartbeesfontein. MEhttps://t.co/K3dtsYvFs0 pic.twitter.com/ocFpjEWCIC

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) December 27, 2024