A woman who dumped her new born baby on the roadside in January this year pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted murder in the Verulam Magistrates Court.
On the January 14th, 2019 Jeneve Venkatido gave birth naturally to a healthy baby boy in her bathroom at her home on Olivine Road in Everest Heights, Verulam. Shortly after the delivery she wrapped the child in a denim garment and placed him in a black municipality refuse bag which she dumped on the roadside approximately 100 meters away from her home. A scrap collector contacted Reaction Unit South Africa after he heard the child crying.
Upon arrival Medics opened the bag which was tied and discovered the baby boy. The umbilical cord was still attached to the placenta. While preparing the child for hospital transport a municipal bin truck was seen loading refuse bags along Olivine Road. Had the child not been found in time he would have been thrown into the back of the truck.
Reaction Officers interviewed residents in the area regarding an Indian female who was pregnant. No one could confirm seeing a pregnant female in the area however one person confirmed seeing Jeneve walking along the road minutes prior to the discovery being made. Officers proceeded to her residence and upon interviewing her she denied being pregnant or having any knowledge of the child in the bin bag. After RUSA Members questioned her about a blood stain on her leg she admitted to concealing her pregnancy from her family and attempting to murder her new born child.
Her 11 year old son and 9 year old daughter were at school and her parents were at work when she went into labour. During questioning she claimed that she attempted to murder the child due to her children being from different fathers. The 31 year old was placed under arrest by Reaction Officers and handed over to Police. Immediately after effecting the arrest RUSA Members received several threats from the family who intended on covering up the incident.
The baby boy is currently in the care of his biological father who claimed that Jeneve had informed him that she was pregnant however due to complications in her pregnancy she had lost the child during the early stages of her pregnancy.
She will appear in court for sentencing on June 4th, 2019.