Authorities search for mother after part of newborn found in Bloemside
Police in Bloemfontein have intensified efforts to locate the mother of a newborn following the discovery of part of the baby’s remains in the Bloemside area on Wednesday, 9 September, the provincial community safety office said.
A resident reportedly alerted authorities after seeing dogs carrying a part of the infant’s remains along a street. By the time officials issued a statement, the rest of the body had not been recovered and investigators were continuing searches in the area, according to reporting.
The Free State Community Safety, Roads and Transport MEC Jabu Mbalula instructed senior police management in Mangaung to assign experienced detectives to the matter and to prioritise tracing the mother so investigators can establish the circumstances surrounding the child’s death.
“I have come across terrible things in my life, but nothing comes close to this. It is important that the mother is quickly found so that we can get to the bottom of this matter,” said Mbalula, who described the incident as shocking to the community.
Police have opened a case docket of concealment of birth as the official investigation continues. At this stage investigators have not released information about how the baby died or how its remains came to be in the street.
What police and provincial leaders are doing
- Senior police management in Mangaung have been instructed to deploy detectives to trace the mother and continue searches for the rest of the infant’s body.
- The MEC asked that experienced investigators be assigned to the case to expedite questioning and forensic enquiries.
- Authorities appealed to the public to come forward with any information that could assist locating the mother or the remainder of the baby’s remains.
Mbalula also used the occasion to remind women with unwanted pregnancies about available services at public health facilities, urging them to seek assistance rather than resorting to unsafe actions.
Immediate local context and next steps
The matter is being handled locally by Mangaung police, with the concealment of birth docket enabling investigators to pursue leads and question possible witnesses. Police have not yet identified or charged any person in connection with the incident, and forensic examinations will be needed if the rest of the body is located to determine cause of death and whether any criminal offence beyond concealment of birth has occurred.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Bloemside, Bloemfontein |
| Reported | Wednesday, 9 September (resident sighting) |
| Police action | Concealment of birth docket opened; detectives deployed |
| Provincial official | MEC Jabu Mbalula (Community Safety, Roads and Transport) |
Members of the public who may have information about the whereabouts of the mother or the remainder of the baby’s body were urged to contact police. No contact numbers were provided in the initial statement reported by local media; residents should contact Mangaung police or their nearest station if they can assist.
This incident has unsettled neighbours in Bloemside and prompted a clear instruction from the provincial department that the matter be treated with urgency and sensitivity. Investigators face the immediate tasks of locating the rest of the body, identifying and locating the mother, and establishing a timeline and cause of death through forensic and testimonial evidence.
As the investigation proceeds, police are expected to issue further updates. Anyone with relevant information is asked to cooperate with the authorities to help bring clarity and, where appropriate, accountability in this case.
