SOUTH AFRICA: THE GAUTENG DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT HAS DECIDED TO SHUT DOWN ALL BABY SAVERS USED BY CARE CENTERS: ALLEGED NEWS. [1] The Gauteng social development department believes that baby savers facilities encourage child abandonment and deny children their rights to identity and family; Alleged News. [2] Members of Baby Savers South Africa, a national coalition of organisations that provide temporary protection for abandoned infants, are taking legal action after the Gauteng department of social development issued a directive to shut down such centres: Alleged News. [2]
Baby Savers or baby drop-off boxes
Baby Savers, or baby drop-off boxes, are secure devices where mothers who are not able to take care of their babies can safely and anonymously leave them; Alleged News. [2] The devices trigger an alarm in the centre where they are installed, to alert caregivers that a baby has been left in one; Alleged News. [2]
Baby Savers declared illegal
The Gauteng social development department said in a letter sent to organisations in 2023, "The baby box takes away any form of responsibility of the biological mother to care for the child and further disregards the future role and responsibility of the biological father," Alleged News. [2] Baby savers have been declared illegal and their immediate closure ordered; Alleged News. [2]
Closures of Baby Saver organisations
Since that time, seven out of 12 baby-saver organisations in Gauteng have closed operations, concerned re legal repercussions: others are questioning the order for closure; Alleged News. [2] The Love of Christ Children's Home in Midvaal, Gauteng, changed from a baby-savers organisation housing 60 children to a day-care centre, after the Gauteng department did not renew its licence; Alleged News. [2]
Legal proceedings initiated
Baby Savers South Africa has initiated legal proceedings against the department and contends in its court papers that certain provisions of the Children's Act - which the Gauteng department relied on in issuing the directive - are unconstitutional; Alleged News. [2] "Our primary fear, and whole reason for fighting for Baby Savers, is the loss of an innocent little life. The right to life surpasses all other rights - and a baby saver is a safe alternative to unsafe baby abandonment. Do babies' lives not matter?" Co-founder Nadene Grabham asked, Alleged News. [2] Ms Grabham is co-founder of Baby Savers South Africa, and operational director at Door of Hope Children's Mission; Alleged News. [2]
Over 10 000 babies abandoned annually
Every year, over 10 000 babies are abandoned in South Africa, with the vast majority of them found dead; Alleged News. [3]
Baby Savers has a register of organisations
Baby Savers may be found in South Africa at:
GAUTENG:
Door of Hope Children's Mission Baby Saver 1 at 48 Hillbrow Street in Berea, Johannesburg
New BeginningZ Baby Saver 1 at Corner of Mears (Steve Biko) & Jorrissen in Sunnyside, Pretoria
New BeginningZ Baby Saver 2 at 50 Vos Street, at PEN in Vos Street near the river, in Sunnyside Pretoria
Little Angels Wall of Hope at 21 Alexander Street in Vereeniging
Tree of Hope Edenvale at 23 5th Avenue Corner of 2nd street and 5th
in Edenvale
Door of Care and Safety at 39 Pollock Street in Randfontein
Jeremiah's Hope at 10 Du Plessis Ave in Kempton Park Ext 2
Angels Baby Sanctuary Box of Hope at 273 Johannesburg Road, in La Rochelle
Kaenguru Baby Saver at Croft St Garthdale in Klip Rivier, Midvaal
Rock of Hope at 258 Willow Road, in Magalieskruin Pretoria
Just In Time Baby Savers at 70 Kliprand Road, in Discovery Roodepoort
Lighthouse Baby Saver at 48 Drysdale Road, in Sundowner
WESTERN CAPE:
Helderberg Baby Saver (Choices Crisis Pregnancy Centre) on the right wall of the Choices Pregnancy Centre in Schapenberg Road. (Vergelegen Spar is on the corner), in Somerset West
Tevah Moshe Baby Safe at 3 Musica Avenue, in Macassar
Open Arms of Hope at Lofdal International church, Bellavista Rd, in Bloekombos Kraaifontein
Mercy Haven Baby Saver at Hope Building 6 Queen Street, in Knysna
Citrusdal Baby Saver at Denne Street Citrusdal, in Citrusdal WC
Inceba Baby Saver at 9 Quarry Street, in Bellville, Cape Town
Philisa Abafazi at 57 Strauss Rd, in Steenberg
Die Moses Mandjie at 84 Church Street, in Worcester WC
KWAZULU NATAL:
Open Arms SA - Thembayo at 5 Vimy Rd, in Bluff Durban
Vikela Baby Saver at 121 Helen Joseph Road, in Glenwood Durban
Project Life Baby Saver at Christ Church 2 Old Main Rd, in Umhlali North Coast
EASTERN CAPE:
Health Moms and Babies Clinic at 27 St Francis Bay, in Jeffrey's Bay
MPUMALANGA:
Madison Square Baby Saver Middelburg CBD at Madison Square Presbyterian Church, 57 Bhimy Damane Street, in Middelburg CBD
SA Community Crime Watch (SACCW), at New Life Church Mandela Drive, in Witbank
SACCW Baby Saver 2 at 15 Hertzog Street, in Witbank CPD
SACCW Baby Saver 3 at Reyno Ridge, 11 Vulture Street, in Witbank
FREE STATE:
No Baby Savers
NORTH WEST:
No Baby Savers
NORTHERN CAPE:
No Baby Savers
LIMPOPO:
No Baby Savers
NAMIBIA:
Ruach Elohim Foundation Baby Saver, at Corner of Dr Schwietering and Bottle tree street, in Ocean View - Swakopmund [4] Contact persons, telephone numbers and email addresses are available at https://babysaverssa.co.za/baby_saver_directory/
WHY NOT SIGN THE PETITION?
https://www.change.org/p/president-of-south-africa-legalise-baby-savers-save-children-s-lives
[5]
[1] Kempton Express: Gauteng Department of Social Development cancels baby-savers; Alleged News
[2] Baby Savers South Africa fights back; Alleged News
https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/mail-guardian/20250502/281681145750301
[3] SABC News: Over 10 000 babies are abandoned in South Africa every year: Baby Savers SA; Alleged News
[4] A Directory of Baby Savers in South Africa; Alleged News
https://babysaverssa.co.za/baby_saver_directory/
[5] A National Coalition to end unsafe infant abandonment, giving desperate mothers the option of safe infant relinquishment; Alleged News
With thanks to youtube, citizen.co.za, pressreader.com, sabcnews.com, babysaverssa.co.za and change.org
