An off-duty police officer went beyond the call of duty to clothe and feed a new born baby from a disadvantaged family at Ext 5, Kanana. Constable Mohase Mahapela was on his last night shift on 25 April 2019, when he assisted a complainant who came to seek police help about her 1-year-old daughter, whom she said always neglect her 1-month-old daughter.
Constable Mahapela went to look for the mother, found her and interviewed and warned her, but what touched his heart was the realisation that the mother neglected the baby to go and try to find food and clothes, as the baby did not even have diapers and was clothed in a black refuse bag. She only had one set of clothes fir her baby.
Const Mahapela went on rest days and the following morning, he attended his church and shared his findings with members of the church, asking for donations to help the baby girl. With the churches assistance, he went to buy milk, food, toiletries and clothes for the baby. He also engaged a social worker, who accompanied the mother to the clinic for a medical check up, as the baby was never taken to the clinic after birth. Upon arrival at the clinic, it was further established that the baby was extremely dehydrated and was referred to Tshepong hospital where she was admitted. Const Mahapela and the social worker also noticed that the mother did not have an identity document which makes it difficult to do a birth certificate for the child so she can access social grants. The policeman and social worker are in the process of helping them to get identity documents.
