Public protest over the discovery of a baby in the dunes

WALVIS BAY – The shocking abandonment of a young child in the dunes has sparked intense anger among Namibians across the country, who are now demanding that both parents be held accountable.

The one year and four month old baby was found on Saturday morning in the Narraville dunes, about 200 meters from a busy
path.

From the first moment, both police and social workers indicated that the baby was well cared for and in good health.

The area where it was abandoned is considered a danger zone due to incidents of rape that occur there.

“It is still unclear what her motives were and why she decided to leave her baby in the dunes,” Inspector Iileni Shapumba told New Era.

He said tips received from vigilant members of the community resulted in the 24-year-old mother being tracked to a shebeen in Kuisebmond, where she was selling kapana.

Well kept

Shapumba said the girl was clean and also dressed appropriately and warm. “Her overall appearance is excellent and you could see that she was well cared for. She was wrapped in a warm blanket and wearing extra diapers. She had no physical injuries and no documents were found on her,” she added.

The baby is currently being cared for in a safe house.

New Era understands the mother was trying to hide in a bathroom to evade police.

The woman was charged after being questioned by police, prompting the public to demand that the baby’s father also be charged.

However, Shapumba said there is currently no reason to charge the father, a 27-year-old man who lives in Omuthiya, Oshikoto region.

“We want to inform the public that before making an arrest in this case, we conducted extensive investigations. We are also working with our social workers to investigate all circumstances. At this time, we have no legal grounds to arrest the father,” Shapumba said.

Unemployed but assisted father

New Era was reliably informed that the father and his family are currently en route to Walvis Bay and that the baby could be released into their care.

Sources close to the family said the father was unemployed, but had been helping the mother financially as best he could. This was also confirmed by her mother during the police interrogation.

Community activist Sidney Boois said providing love and care is a double duty. Therefore, both parents are responsible and should be charged for negligence.

“Let’s not opt ​​for a scapegoat approach; be solutions-based,” Boois said while commenting on New Era’s social media page.

Herman Williams, a single father of three, who also contacted this publication yesterday, responded that the situation is twofold and that a crime should not be compared to a responsibility.

“The mother committed a crime by which she endangered her son’s life. In this sense, the law should take its course. However, social workers should meet with both parents to see if a better solution can be found for the girl, as her safety is now the most critical issue to consider,” she added.

Another concerned member of the public, Martha Nanus, said leaving a child is not the solution, and that women who cannot care for their children should be able to leave their children without fear at hospitals and police stations.

“She should have given her son to a neighbor or called a social worker, instead of putting him in danger. However, I am grateful that she was found unharmed. The best thing the police can do is see if the father is willing to take full custody of his daughter,” she observed.

Meanwhile, Shapumba insisted that the law should take its course.

“It is important to indicate that children have the right to know and be cared for by their parents, and we as parents have that constitutional obligation. We want to express our gratitude to the public for their help in this case. “It is important to reiterate that we are still investigating what led the suspect to throw her baby into the dunes, leaving her exposed to danger and without care,” she continued.

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2024-04-29 Eveline de Klerk