NEWBORN BURIED IN OOP VELD - Hanover Park vrou, 23, and accomplice vas after ‘concealing birth’

SHOCKED: Mense gather in the street after search Image: Supplied A MOTHER and her male accomplice have been arrested after dumping and burying her newborn baby in Hanover Park on Sunday. What started as a rumour spread like wildfire through the community and sparked the interest of residents and members of the Community Police Forum (CPF) to dig deeper into the gossip. The search by authorities continued for hours until they finally discovered the newborn baby’s body, wrapped in plastic and buried in an open field next to Canal and Downberg Road in Hanover Park after 11pm. A member of the CPF, who does not want to be named, explained the shocking story to the Daily Voice. He said: “We received information that a child was buried near the dam, but when I went out there, I did not see any commotion or people, so I thought it was a false alarm.” He said that later that evening, a woman came forward to show him a photo of the missing baby and pointed out the home where the baby had allegedly been. The Daily Voice is in possession of the photo, which shows the newborn baby lying in a kommetjie with dirty water and clothes. The CPF member said he contacted the station commander, who made his way to the house, where the mother eventually came out with the hele sak patats. The member explained: “The people in the house claimed they knew nothing about the missing child, saying they don’t know of a baby or anyone being pregnant. “One lady came forward saying she saw the child at the house in the bucket. I let the detectives do their job and they questioned her. “She finally broke down and said she is the mother of the child. “They asked her what happened to the baby, to which she replied she didn’t know. “We were sent on a wild goose chase looking for the second suspect known as Ballie. “At around 11pm, residents called me to say they saw Ballie with police showing them something. “I communicated with the Colonel, who confirmed they positively identified the body of the baby.” Provincial police spokesperson, Thembakazi Mpendukana, confirmed that the 23-year-old mother and a 35-year-old man are expected to make their first appearance in court on Wednesday. Mpendukana confirmed: “Philippi SAPS has opened a concealment of birth case following the discovery of a newborn baby who was buried wrapped in plastic at an open field next to Canal and Downberg Road, Hanover Park on Sunday, 19 July at approximately 10.58pm. “A 23-year-old female suspect and a 35-year-old male suspect have been arrested and will appear at Athlone Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 22 July 2026.” DARK TIMES: Mense searched late into the evening Image: Supplied