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The tragic case of "baby-dumping" by a Verulam mother who gave birth and allegedly thereafter dumped her new born boy baby in a plastic packet meters from her home marked a sad start to the new year in KwaZulu Natal.

The IFP believes that one of the most effective ways to combat this social ill is to scale-up the use of contraception among sexually active women in order to avoid unplanned pregnancies. Every child, regardless of circumstances surrounding their conception, has a right to life and should the mother have wished to terminate her pregnancy, it would have been best to attend a registered public clinic  to assist her.

It is irresponsible and heartlessness to give birth to a child just to later abandon it. It is an injustice not only to the child but to society as a whole to bear children that one has no intentions of looking after. Every child needs parental love which wider society may not be able to offer.

This story is indicative of the years of inaction by the ANC government in KwaZulu-Natal in terms of assisting young women, mothers, children and all vulnerable residents of the province. There should be no need for women  to believe that after giving birth it is best to ‘dump’ a baby.

In an IFP governed KwaZulu-Natal, we will ensure that all women in the province, especially sexually active young women receive the care and contraception they need in order to prevent the dumping of babies and we will encourage all residents of the province to practice safe sex and family planning.

We hope and trust that law enforcement will provide closure on the matter and that justice takes its course.

Issued by The IFP