Child abandonment is a criminal offence
Many people don’t know that abandoning a baby does not only have psychological effects on a child and the parent, but also goes against the law.
Child abandonment is when a parent, guardian or person in charge of a child deserts a child without any regard for its physical health, safety or welfare. According to the department, 378 babies were abandoned at hospitals across Gauteng from 2013 to 2015.