Since the Helderberg Baby Saver (HBS) was launched in 2014 thirteen babies have been safely relinquished through it. The first six babies came in over a period of 8 years with the last seven being placed in the Saver since March of last year.
Gauteng Social Development’s October ban of baby savers as a place to relinquish babies followed 10 years of advocacy by civil society to prevent unsafe abandonment. Government terms it ‘child protection’, but given the number of children dying or left disabled when babies are abandoned in rubb.
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According to the NPO, its box services provided a safe space for vulnerable women to safely leave their babies, which the Gauteng Department of Social Development argued was illegal and compromised the infants’ protection.
Years before guests could walk into a neighbourhood café and order oat milk in their coffee or a gluten-free brownie, Marci Prebianca-Upson was a saviour for the food allergy community.