Letlhakane Police are investigating a case in which a newborn baby boy was found dumped in a pit latrine in Letsibogo ward in Letlhakane this past Sunday morning.

Letlhakane Police Station Commander, Michael Maphephu said they received a report from a 42-year-old woman at 10 am who said that she heard a baby cry in her pit latrine when she wanted to use it in the morning.

The Police Chief said the baby might have been dropped in the toilet early Sunday morning. Police responded to the scene following the call and the child was retrieved from the toilet.

“The baby was taken to Letlhakane Primary Hospital for medical assistance and the medical doctors confirmed that the baby was fit and healthy,” Maphephu said.

The baby’s mother will be charged with concealment of birth. Mphephu said if the woman is found, the Letlhakane Primary Hospital will investigate with a view to pursuing charges, but alternatively, assess whether the child will be at risk if returned to the birth mother.

Maphephu said this is the first incident occurring in his policing area since the start of this year, noting that in 2021 they recorded one incident in which a woman who had committed a similar offence was found and given back the baby after she received counselling.