A foetus was found buried behind a residence on the Education campus of Wits University.
By Mary Sayegh and Patricia Aruo
The remains of a male foetus was found buried behind a female residence on the Wits Education campus in Parktown earlier today. Hillbrow Police station has confirmed an investigation is underway after the body was found by a Wits University gardener.
According to Mduduzi Zondo, Hillbrow Police spokesperson, “The body of a six to seven month old foetus was found at 10am on Tuesday, February 27, by a gardener behind the Girton Hall residence at the Wits Education Campus.” He added that the foetus has been identified as a boy and the remains have been moved to a local mortuary. Zondo told Wits Vuvuzela that a case of concealment of birth has been opened and police are trying to identify the mother and the exact circumstances surrounding the death of the foetus.
A worker at the residence, who asked to remain anonymous, was on the scene and described how the body was found. She said that the gardener who found the body was resting when he noticed a “stick” on top of a lump of soil that had not been there the day before and decided to dig it up.
“He took a spade and dug. When he dug, he found a head then he closed it again and ran. He entered here [Girton residence reception] and asked for security to call the Campus Control. When he called me outside, I told him ‘dig again I want to see’,” she added.
The visibly shocked worker said, “I have been at Wits for six years and nothing like this has ever happened”.
Lucky Khumela, Wits Security and Liaison manager told Wits Vuvuzela that an internal investigation is currently underway.
