A Cape Flats community activist is appealing for help to install a “baby saver” for unwanted babies at her home.
Lucinda Evans, the founder of Philisa Abafazi Bethu, says she was ecstatic to receive the device this week.
She’s now calling on individuals in the electrical, construction and alarm industries to assist in installing the baby saver at her home in Lavender Hill.
A baby saver is basically a metal box in which an unwanted baby can be placed.
LIFE SAVER: A metal box in which an unwanted baby can be placed. Video: Robin-Lee Francke
As soon as the door is closed, it locks the baby in, an alarm is sounded and a volunteer is alerted.
Lucinda says help for the baby will arrive in five minutes.
“In October last year, a newborn baby was dumped on my stoep on a rainy night. The little girl was left in a Shoprite plastic bag with the umbilical cord still attached,” she says.
“My house was and still is a point of help for many of the residents in my community.”
A month later, another child was left in her yard.
“We forgot to lock the gate and came home to find a two-year-old girl crawling on my stoep.
“Since then I have been asking for a baby saver.
“Last week, a baby was found dumped on a tip in Muizenberg. I was so angered by this.”
On Monday, Melissa Hertz from the organisation Project Life came to deliver the device.
“We build the baby savers. This is the second one we made and we decided to donate it to Lucinda,” says Melissa.
“She is a beacon of hope in her community of Lavender Hill and she has done amazing things. As an organisation we hope to be suppliers to the whole of South Africa soon.”
No questions will be asked of the person who brings the baby, says Lucinda.
“I have a vibracrete slab but will need a brick wall built to place the baby saver in, like a pizza oven. I need an electrician to install a light and give the impression of an incubator.
“We also need an alarm company to install a sensor, so if the door is opened, it will trigger the sensor and alarm and all volunteers can get an SMS.
“The nearest person can respond, and the baby will then be taken to Retreat MOU.”
She says mense volunteering as responders will be “screened, vetted and trained as baby save protectors”.
“Every child has a right to life. That is why I need the greater Cape Town to support us.
“Latest police statistics show that 935 children were killed in our country.
“What more do we have to say?” Lucinda asks.