Staff Reporter
A 34-YEAR-OLD woman has been arrested for abandoning a baby at a shebeen in Mariental.
According to the weekend crime report, the incident of child neglect happened between Thursday, 13 August 2026, and Friday, 14 August 2026, at a shebeen in Takarania, Mariental.
It is alleged that the suspects, who are the parents of the victim, went drinking at a shebeen, where they later started arguing. They both left and abandoned their four-month-old baby boy at the shebeen for several hours without food and basic care.
It is further alleged that a Good Samaritan picked up the baby and brought him to the Gender-Based Violence Protection Office on Friday, 14 August 2026.
The suspects have two children together. Both children were placed in a shelter for safety pending investigations and further processes.
A 34-year-old woman has been arrested, while the other suspect is yet to be arrested. Police investigations continue.
