Written by: Sthabiso Mdledle

Hammarsdade police officers became heroes when they saved a 17-month-old baby that was locked in the house the whole day at Mlaba Village on Monday.

It is said that police Constables Nonkululeko Magubane and Mini Mdabe rescued the baby after they were notified by members of the community when they heard the baby crying from inside the locked house.

Constable Mbonisi Khomo, spokesperson of the Hammersdale police said that they arrived at the house and found the baby naked, with a lot of sores in the body and crying alone in the house.

“We asked the neighbours what happened to the parents of the child, and their whereabouts since the baby was crying alone and one of the neighbours said they saw the father at the Hammersdale Junction Mall,” said Khomo.

He added that it is said that the parent of the child left in the morning to go to the mall just to sit not to even buy something.

“After talking to the neighbours we then went to the mall as directed, and found him sitting and doing nothing,” Khomo explained.

He said that the police then notified the Social workers about the incident who then took the child to the hospital.

The police said that the parents had an argument earlier, then the mother left the child with the father.

Constable Nonkululeko Magubane donated with a baby formula, a feeding bottle and some clothes.

According to the police, both parents Ndumiso Msomi and Khanyisile Lafuleni have been arrested and are in custody while the police investigate.

According to constable Khomo, the baby received treatment and is recovering well.