Police investigating the discovery of bodies of babies in a freezer in an Mthatha home were yesterday shocked to find a fifth body.
Police initially reported that four infant bodies had been found resting among cakes, meat and vegetables in the New Brighton township home.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said an autopsy yesterday morning had established that there were five bodies in all.
Health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said four were full-term babies and one a foetus. Three of the four were girls, one a boy and the foetus was that of a girl.
“Samples have been sent to the laboratory for DNA tests,” said Kupelo. “One of the bodies had a shoelace around the neck. There were also three placenta.”
There is a belief the bodies were the result of illegal abortions.
Kupelo said it was illegal to terminate pregnancy beyond three months and to perform backyard abortions as it was risky to the mother.
“Pregnancy termination must be done by professional medical practitioners.”
Kupelo said it was “illegal to keep lifeless bodies at home, let alone in domestic refrigerators” as it posed a health hazard. “There is no justification to keep bodies at home.”
The grisly discovery of the frozen bodies has left residents of the quiet township horrified.
Police were alerted on Saturday afternoon by Anita King, 44, who had been asked by the owners to clean the house.
When she arrived, came across an unbearable smell which she initially thought was meat that had gone off in the fridge due to loadshedding.
She was horrified when she noticed a tiny human head and hand.
Fatyela said the homeowner, who was in Johannesburg at the weekend, had not yet returned home.
“She told us that she had breakdown. She is cooperating with investigators and we hope that she will arrive tonight,” said Fatyela.
The Daily Dispatch has learnt that the owner of the house is the stepdaughter of one of Mthatha’s respected builders.
Contacted yesterday, the man said he would be in Mthatha today to speak to police about the discovery.
A 24-hour police guard has been stationed at the house to ensure no one tampers with the scene.
The Daily Dispatch visited the scene yesterday afternoon and saw a bakkie filled with furniture parked outside the house. Tenants said they could not stay.
“My daughter is moving out of this house,” said Ann Morrison.
“She, her husband and their child were renting the backyard rooms. But they cannot stay in a horror house.”
The Eastern Cape Gender Commission (ECGC) provincial coordinator, Nceba Mrwebo, applauded King for blowing the whistle.
He said it was not yet known if the house was used as an illegal abortion centre or why the bodies had been kept in a freezer.
“We urge police to dig deeper in their investigation and find more underlying factors. Authorities need to be given enough space to get to the bottom of this matter.
“It may be bigger than it looks and we do not know how broad it is,” said Mrwebo.
On Sunday, a group of mostly women held a meeting and marched to the house. However, they did nothing at the house.
Baby count rises to 5
Police initially reported that four infant bodies had been found resting among cakes, meat and vegetables in the New Brighton township home.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said an autopsy yesterday morning had established that there were five bodies in all.
Health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said four were full-term babies and one a foetus. Three of the four were girls, one a boy and the foetus was that of a girl.
“Samples have been sent to the laboratory for DNA tests,” said Kupelo. “One of the bodies had a shoelace around the neck. There were also three placenta.”
There is a belief the bodies were the result of illegal abortions.
Kupelo said it was illegal to terminate pregnancy beyond three months and to perform backyard abortions as it was risky to the mother.
“Pregnancy termination must be done by professional medical practitioners.”
Kupelo said it was “illegal to keep lifeless bodies at home, let alone in domestic refrigerators” as it posed a health hazard. “There is no justification to keep bodies at home.”
The grisly discovery of the frozen bodies has left residents of the quiet township horrified.
Police were alerted on Saturday afternoon by Anita King, 44, who had been asked by the owners to clean the house.
When she arrived, came across an unbearable smell which she initially thought was meat that had gone off in the fridge due to loadshedding.
She was horrified when she noticed a tiny human head and hand.
Fatyela said the homeowner, who was in Johannesburg at the weekend, had not yet returned home.
“She told us that she had breakdown. She is cooperating with investigators and we hope that she will arrive tonight,” said Fatyela.
The Daily Dispatch has learnt that the owner of the house is the stepdaughter of one of Mthatha’s respected builders.
Contacted yesterday, the man said he would be in Mthatha today to speak to police about the discovery.
A 24-hour police guard has been stationed at the house to ensure no one tampers with the scene.
The Daily Dispatch visited the scene yesterday afternoon and saw a bakkie filled with furniture parked outside the house. Tenants said they could not stay.
“My daughter is moving out of this house,” said Ann Morrison.
“She, her husband and their child were renting the backyard rooms. But they cannot stay in a horror house.”
The Eastern Cape Gender Commission (ECGC) provincial coordinator, Nceba Mrwebo, applauded King for blowing the whistle.
He said it was not yet known if the house was used as an illegal abortion centre or why the bodies had been kept in a freezer.
“We urge police to dig deeper in their investigation and find more underlying factors. Authorities need to be given enough space to get to the bottom of this matter.
“It may be bigger than it looks and we do not know how broad it is,” said Mrwebo.
On Sunday, a group of mostly women held a meeting and marched to the house. However, they did nothing at the house.
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