Child neglect, abandonment accused released in care of mother

Breaking News Update

KNYSNA NEWS - The 17-year-old girl who was arrested on charges of child neglect and child abandonment earlier this week, appeared again in the Knysna Magistrate’s Court today 3 September for a preliminary hearing.

"She appeared for a preliminary investigation before a magistrate and was released into the care of her mother. The matter was postponed to 14 October for further investigation," said Southern Cape police spokesperson Captain Malcolm Pojie.

"She is not in custody and will not be detained at a house of safety as reported earlier."

The mother was arrested in New Horizons, Plettenberg Bay on Tuesday 1 September, less than a day after a baby was found abandoned in Green Street, Knysna Central.

According to Pojie, the baby was found on Monday 31 August at about 14:40.

“The abandoned coloured baby girl, estimated to be about a week old, was found by a passer-by in the bushes near Green Street who brought the baby to the Knysna Police Community Service Centre,” Pojie said.