Question NW317 to the Minister of Police
27 September 2024 - NW317
Abrahams, Ms ALA to ask the Minister of Police
(1) What total number of (a) cases of babies found abandoned were opened (i) in (aa) 2019, (bb) 2020, (cc) 2021, (dd) 2022 and (ee) 2023 financial year and (ii) since 1 January 2024 to date in each province and (b) the babies were found alive in each year in each province; (2) what action does his department take regarding abandoned babies that are found alive by the SA Police Service (SAPS) officers; (3) in each year since 2019, what (a) total number of persons have been charged for abandoning babies and (b) were the charges?
Reply:
(1) The total number of (a) cases of babies found abandoned (child neglect), which were opened (i) in the stipulated years and (ii) since 1 January 2024, to date, in each province, and (b) the number of babies that were found alive, in each year, in each province, as follows:
|
Financial Year |
(i)(aa) 2019 |
(bb) 2020 |
(cc) 2021 |
(dd) 2022 |
(ee) 2023 |
(ii) Jan 2024 to date |
(b) Babies found alive from 2019-2024 |
|
Eastern Cape |
80 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
8 |
98 |
|
Free State |
9 |
4 |
14 |
8 |
6 |
0 |
41 |
|
Gauteng |
93 |
95 |
91 |
81 |
4 |
8 |
372 |
|
KwaZulu-Natal |
47 |
33 |
29 |
60 |
58 |
24 |
251 |
|
Limpopo |
0 |
2 |
2 |
5 |
1 |
3 |
13 |
|
Mpumalanga |
11 |
6 |
7 |
12 |
16 |
0 |
52 |
|
North West |
1 |
3 |
9 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
19 |
|
Northern Cape |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
6 |
|
Western Cape |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
7 |
16 |
|
TOTAL |
242 |
149 |
156 |
173 |
96 |
52 |
868 |
(2) The abandoned child is taken for medical examination, while the Department of Social Development is notified and the child is placed at an appropriate place of safety.
(3) The total number of persons that have been charged for abandoning babies and charges in each financial year is reflected in the table that is attached as Annexure A.
Annexure A
|
Financial Year |
(aa) 2019 |
(bb) 2020 |
(cc) 2021 |
(dd) 2022 |
(ee) 2023 |
Jan 2024 - to date |
||||||
|
(a) Total number of persons charged |
(b) Charges |
(a)Total number of persons charged |
(b) Charges |
(a)Total number of persons charged |
( b) Charges |
(a)Total number of persons charged |
(b) Charges |
(a) Total number of persons charged |
(b) Charges |
(a) Total number of persons charged |
(b) Charges |
|
|
Eastern Cape |
2 |
Child abandonment |
2 |
Child abandonment |
1 |
Child abandonment |
1 |
Attempted murder & Child abandonment |
4 |
Attempted murder & Child abandonment |
2 |
Child abandonment |
|
Free State |
11 |
Child abandonment |
4 |
Child abandonment |
9 |
Child abandonment |
17 |
Attempted murder & Child abandonment |
12 |
Child abandonment |
13 |
Child abandonment |
|
Gauteng |
26 |
Child abandonment |
22 |
Child abandonment |
22 |
Child abandonment |
20 |
Child abandonment |
1 |
Child abandonment |
2 |
Child abandonment |
|
KwaZulu-Natal |
9 |
Child abandonment |
12 |
Child abandonment |
17 |
Child abandonment |
14 |
Child abandonment |
23 |
Child abandonment |
16 |
Child abandonment |
|
Limpopo |
0 |
Nil |
0 |
Nil |
0 |
Nil |
1 |
Child abandonment |
1 |
Child abandonment |
1 |
Child abandonment |
|
Mpumalanga |
11 |
Child abandonment |
6 |
Child abandonment |
7 |
Child abandonment |
12 |
Child abandonment |
16 |
Child abandonment |
0 |
NA |
|
North West |
0 |
NA |
1 |
Child abandonment |
4 |
Child abandonment |
2 |
Child abandonment |
0 |
NA |
1 |
Child abandonment |
|
Northern Cape |
0 |
NA |
0 |
Nil |
0 |
NA |
0 |
NA |
1 |
Child abandonment |
1 |
Child abandonment |
|
Western Cape |
1 |
Child abandonment |
0 |
Nil |
2 |
Child abandonment |
0 |
NA |
1 |
Child abandonment |
1 |
Child abandonment |
|
TOTAL |
60 |
47 |
62 |
67 |
59 |
37 |
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