Update
KNYSNA NEWS - No arrests have been made in connection with the death of an infant found in Khayalethu, Knysna two weeks ago.
The body of the newborn baby was found at a house at eDameni, Khayalethu on Friday 13 July.
It is believed that a child saw a dog dragging the body of the infant outside their residence and informed his mother, who immediately alerted the police.
Subsequent to the incident, the Knysna detective branch is investigating an inquest docket.
At the time, Knysna police spokesperson sergeant Chris Spies said no murder case had been opened. "We can only confirm at this stage that a woman was questioned, but no one was arrested in connection with this matter."
A community leader, who only identified himself as "General", said that elderly women in the area were called in to help identify the child's mother, and they brought a number of women to the house for questioning.
Community 'traumatised'
General said they have had several meetings with community members, most of whom want the alleged mother out of their area, but that community leaders have advised against this. "It is frustrating but we trust that justice will be served," he said.
One of the elderly women, Nolandele Sikali, who was on the scene, said the incident left them traumatised and that seeing the woman roaming the streets is not making it easy for them as a community.
Sikali was one of the women who found the alleged mother. In a previous interview with Knysna-Plett Herald she said, “When we called her to examine her she was shaking. We opened her shirt and pressed her breasts. Breast milk came out… Breast milk only comes out after you have given birth. We stripped her naked and saw that she had indeed given birth.”
Woman denies baby is hers
She said the woman denied that the baby was hers and even went so far as saying that she was never pregnant while everyone knew she had been with child.
When Knysna-Plett Herald spoke to the woman accused of being the mother on 18 July, she said nothing connects her to the baby and she threatened to sue anyone who tarnishes her name, including Knysna-Plett Herald.
She was called for a follow-up interview but her phone goes unanswered.
This week, Spies confirmed that the investigation into the matter is at an advanced stage. "DNA samples were obtained from a woman for further forensic analysis. No other information could be made public at this stage," he said.
Read a previous article: Horror death of Khayalethu infant
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