Johannesburg – A Fort Hare University student appeared in court on Thursday for allegedly dumping her newborn baby in bushes with his father’s cellphone number pasted to his face, said Eastern Cape police.

The 24-year-old, second year student was granted bail of R500 by the Centane Magistrate’s Court, which postponed the case until June, said Captain Jackson Manatha.

Zinziswa Skedama was arrested on Tuesday when an elderly couple found the baby wrapped in towels in a bushy area in Centane.

Police later established that the piece of paper stuck to his face contained the contact details for his father, who was also a student at the university, said Manatha.

He said the mother was found in Centane and admitted to giving birth to the baby at Victoria Hospital in Alice, four days previously.

The baby was taken to a place of safety.

SAPA

A 19-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday in connection with break-ins at the Northern Cape legislature building, an official said on Wednesday.

Legislature spokeswoman Mpho Masina said the building was broken into twice in May. A computer monitor, kettle, electric fan, two laptops and two digital cameras were stolen.

The man was apprehended during a joint operation between the police’s crime intelligence unit and the legislature’s security personnel on Wednesday morning.

Masina said the legislature’s security management had ruled out the involvement of employees in the break-ins. Some of the stolen goods had been recovered. – Sapa