Police are searching for the mother of a newborn baby boy after its tiny body was found in a plastic bag in Heideveld, in Cape Town.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant Ian Bennett said pedestrians came across the dead infant on Saturday afternoon next to the Heideveld High School fence on Duinefontein Road.

“The body was taken to Salt River mortuary to determine the cause of death,” he said.

“An inquest case was opened for investigation [as we are] awaiting the result of the post-mortem.”

Bennett said the infant was naked with its umbilical cord attached and the placenta was also in the shopping bag.

Head of Cape Town Child Welfare Niresh Ramklass said the “terrible” incident would be “heartless if the baby had been alive when it was dumped”.

“Usually these newborns are placed in public, like outside a church, where the mothers know they will be found quickly,” he explained.

Most dumped babies are often born to teenage mothers, Ramklass told News24.

“It’s sad because there are so many childless couples waiting for a baby to adopt.

“Give the baby to us. You don’t even have to see it after it’s born. There are options.”

Anyone able to identify the baby’s mother is urged to phone Manenberg police on 021 699 9400. News24