​Officials from the Gauteng Department of Social Development in Krugersdorp office have rescued a newborn from the cold weather.
The officials stumbled upon a month-old baby while they were on the streets of Krugersdorp to give out soup and blankets to the homeless as part of the Winter Warmers Campaign.
The mother and the baby were staying in an old camp tent with other homeless people which was erected inside an old tennis court in the area.
According to the department's Statutory Social Worker, Kgomotso Tlhapane, the team was visiting homeless people, offering them blankets and food. They were approached by a concerned community member who alerted them about a young woman who recently gave birth.
"We decided to go to the place we found them in a tent. On the day, it was cold and windy, and they had light blankets for that extreme cold weather. We were concerned about the baby since she was born in June. She did not want to talk to us, and her friends told her not to talk because we were there to steal her baby. It was not easy to convince the young mom on danger that she was exposing the child to", Tlhapane explained.
"However, we were forced to involve the police due to interference from the community in the camp, who accused us of wanting to kidnap the baby. On the arrival of the police, she started to cooperate," she said.
Both mother and the baby were moved from the camp to a secured place where it was warm. They were able to bath and offered hot meal.
Tlhapane said as a Department of Social Development it is their responsibility to take care of the needy. They have also completed their assessment and the mother will be assisted to apply for an ID so she can apply for a birth certificate for her baby.
"We are glad that we were able to intervene, and we will assist her to apply for a child support grant. The mother will also be taken through the rehabilitation   programme " said Tlhapane with a smile.