RESIDENTS call him "lucky child".
The newborn baby boy could have suffocated inside the rice plastic bag he was tied in had it not been for the Daveyton Crime Alert member arriving in time.
The baby was miraculously rescued on Monday morning, 16 June, after being found abandoned in a plastic bag at the Gumbi Cemetery in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni.
A member of the Daveyton Crime Alert was walking through the cemetery when he noticed a moving plastic bag and heard faint cries.
Upon investigation, he discovered the baby boy tied inside. He immediately rescued the child, who has since been admitted to Far East Hospital for treatment.
Sergeant Raider Ubisi, spokesman for Putfontein cop shop, said: "Police are investigating a case of child neglect."
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The incident has sparked outrage among local residents, who are urging young mums to seek help from social workers rather than abandoning their babies.
Community leader Jane Magagula expressed gratitude to the Crime Alert member for his timely intervention and emphasised the need for increased awareness on teenage pregnancy.
"We appeal to the young mothers to seek help, rather than throwing their babies away. We thank our member who arrived in time to save the baby. We could otherwise be talking about something different.
"Our member, who is a man, alerted the women and they quickly arranged blankets, diapers, clothes and milk for the baby," said Magagula.
