By Agreement Mabunda
ELIM -Police in Vhembe have opened an inquest docket after the body of a newborn baby was found eaten by a dog.
The gruesome discovery was made on Thursday morning, 23 November at Magangeni village outside Elim under Makhado municipality.
According to reports received, a 29-year-old man was walking on the gravel road along the Lemana Dam when he saw a dog eating what looked like meat. Upon closer inspection, he discovered that the dog was eating parts of a dead infant.
Vhembe police spokesperson W/O Vuledzani Dathi confirmed the incident.
“Upon receiving a report about the incident, our members rushed to the dam, where what was left of the tiny body was found. Both legs and the left arm were missing. The baby appeared to have been strangled with something that looked like a pantyhose, which was found around its neck.
W/O Dathi further said the infant was a boy as his genitals were still intact. Pathologists transported the body to the local Elim Hospital’s government mortuary. The mother of the baby has not been identified yet, but investigations are ongoing.
It is suspected that the mother had given birth at home and later dumped the baby at the Lemana Dam because the umbilical cord was still intact. We don’t think she is from here, but we sincerely hope the police arrest her, so she gets punished for this heinous deed.
Mr Joshua Kwapa, spokesperson for the Limpopo Department of Social Development, called on all mothers who experience challenges in raising their children to seek assistance from local social workers, who are always willing to assist them.
The police are appealing for help in tracing the mother. Anyone with information on her whereabouts or any other information regarding the incident can contact the investigating officer, Detective W/O Mmberengeni Jonathan Muthavhini, on 082 319 9629
