Between January and March 2024, the police recorded 12 incidents of baby dumping.

This the police say is alarming, as there are a number of authorised places, such as schools, hospitals, and churches, where mothers can leave a newborn without being charged.

This adds to the tally of over 50 infants dumped in 2023.

The trend is worrisome for authorities and child rights activists, considering the new childcare act makes provision for new mothers to leave infants in the care of authorised persons.

Psychologist Dr. Shawn Whittaker says postpartum depression plays a major part in baby dumping.

He says other key factors contributing to the scorch of baby dumping include poverty, lack of access to reproductive health services, stigma around unmarried pregnancy, and inadequate social support systems. These are some of the key factors that might be contributing to this heartbreaking trend.