The mutilated body of a newborn baby boy apparently eaten by a dog was found near an informal settlement on the farm Rietvlei near Sundra, Mpumalanga police reported on Friday.
Inspector Leonard Hlathi said farm residents spotted the baby’s body and informed police on Thursday.
”The body was suspectedly carried by a dog from the maize land to the vicinity of the shacks. It was evident from the bruises to the body that it was eaten by the dog.”
Hlathi said the flesh from the neck down to the stomach was eaten. The baby’s intestines had been removed.
A post-mortem would be conducted on the baby’s remains to determine the cause of death, he said.
”We need to investigate whether the baby was born prematurely, or whether the baby was killed afterwards. Therefore we are investigating a murder because the dog may have found the baby dead already.”
Mpumalanga’s provincial police Commissioner Eric Nkabinde has condemned the person responsible for the baby’s death.
”I condemn who ever is responsible for the killing of this baby. I instructed the investigating officer to bring forward the information in order to secure an arrest in this regard.” — Sapa
Anyone with information that can assist police in tracing the perpetrator responsible for concealment of birth or the child’s murder can contact the investigation officer, Constable Vincent Nel, on Tel: 083 229 3698