Mhlaba Memela

Mhlaba Memela

Residents of the Lindelani informal settlement north of Durban are shocked by the incident in which a 14-year-old girl buried a foetus in the yard of her home after she miscarried.

It is believed that the girl, who already has a seven-month-old baby, was impregnated by her 23-year-old boyfriend.

Residents saw a hole behind the girl's home and suspected something was buried there and reported the matter to the police.

"Our information is that the girl terminated the pregnancy," a neighbour said. "She is very young and already has one child with the same man, who continued to sleep with her because she is vulnerable."

Police spokesman Captain Phindile Nxumalo said they had received a report from the community about a foetus buried in a shallow grave at Lindelani.

"When we arrived at the scene the girl's family informed us that they buried the foetus after a miscarriage.

"It is not clear whether she was aware of her second pregnancy," Nxumalo said.

She said the foetus was taken to a government mortuary.

"We will wait for the doctor's report to determine whether or not the girl had terminated the pregnancy," Nxumalo said. "The father of the girl's first child is a pupil from another area."

She said the boy might face a charge of statutory rape.

Meanwhile, police have arrested a 21-year-old woman from Bester for concealment of birth.

Nxumalo said: "The suspect told the police that she had taken four tablets she bought from her friend to end her pregnancy.