Why are thousands of babies dumped in South Africa each year?
Bhekisisa travels to a mortuary in Soweto, where the bodies of newborns and foetuses speak volumes about the challenges facing mothers
14 April 2025 - 08:00
byAnna-Maria van Niekerk, Mia Malan, Jessica Pitchford, Yolanda Mdzeke, Thatego Mashabela and Justin Barlow
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Every year, hundreds of newborns and foetuses are found dumped in the veld, dumps and public toilets.
Abandonment is often because of a lack of options. When mothers feel desperate, they may choose to dispose of their newborns.
While it’s difficult to track exact numbers, some experts estimate that abandoned babies and foetuses make up 2% of the 70,000 unnatural deaths recorded in South Africa annually.
Autopsies reveal that most foetuses found abandoned are not developed enough to survive outside the womb.
Despite our liberal abortion laws, many things make it hard to get a safe abortion, like long waiting lists, lots of admin, understaffed state clinics and stigma.
Some fall prey to unethical practitioners offering fake pills and unreliable procedures that put their health and their lives at risk.
Reproductive health experts say there should be more campaigns that tell people about contraception and safe abortions. Training health-care workers to provide nonjudgmental care could help reduce unintended pregnancies.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Why are thousands of babies dumped in South Africa each year?
Bhekisisa travels to a mortuary in Soweto, where the bodies of newborns and foetuses speak volumes about the challenges facing mothers
Every year, hundreds of newborns and foetuses are found dumped in the veld, dumps and public toilets.
Abandonment is often because of a lack of options. When mothers feel desperate, they may choose to dispose of their newborns.
While it’s difficult to track exact numbers, some experts estimate that abandoned babies and foetuses make up 2% of the 70,000 unnatural deaths recorded in South Africa annually.
Autopsies reveal that most foetuses found abandoned are not developed enough to survive outside the womb.
Despite our liberal abortion laws, many things make it hard to get a safe abortion, like long waiting lists, lots of admin, understaffed state clinics and stigma.
Some fall prey to unethical practitioners offering fake pills and unreliable procedures that put their health and their lives at risk.
Reproductive health experts say there should be more campaigns that tell people about contraception and safe abortions. Training health-care workers to provide nonjudgmental care could help reduce unintended pregnancies.
This story was produced by the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism. Sign up for the newsletter.
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