GOGO (GRANNY) FOLLOWS VOICE – TO DUMPED BABY!

Elizabeth Langa and Bongani Mthimunye Wednesday, July 29, 2015 15:20

Gabazani Ngobeni found a baby’s body in a box. Photo by Elizabeth Langa

GABAZANI Ngobeni was sweeping her yard when a deep yet gentle voice commanded her to drop her broom and go to the dump.

Startled, Gabazani (54) looked around but could not see anyone, so she returned to tidying up her yard . . .

But the voice came again, this time ordering her to go to the dump to look for empty, discarded sacks.

The voice gave her instructions as to exactly where in the vast dump she was to go.

Gabazani, from Mangweni near Malelane in Mpumalanga, headed for the dump as instructed on Tuesday morning.

“I ignored the voice the first time as I thought it was just a naughty neighbour playing a trick on me, but when it came a second time, I knew it was real,” she said.

The gogo couldn’t find the sacks, but found sticks of sugar cane. She picked up the sugar cane and started walking back home when she stumbled on a box.

“I thought the box would make a good container for the sugar cane so I picked it up, but the weight of it made me suspicious. I got the shock of my life when I opened it, and there was a baby in it.”

The dead baby had recently been born, and a hospital identification card with the name of the mother was tucked in the box.

Gabazani said she ran back to the village and alerted other residents.

Lieutenant Mzwandile Nyambi confirmed the incident and said the baby’s body was taken to the government mortuary.

“The hospital then gave the baby to the mother to bury. We are working with the hospital to ascertain the details of the mother. Once we’re done with our investigations we will effect arrests.”