Adopted baby dies after suffering abuse

Adopted baby dies after suffering abuse

AN ADOPTED baby died at a Johannesburg hospital yesterday morning in what has been described as one of the worst cases of child abuse in the country.

Twenty-one-month-old Tammy Herman from Booysens, near the city centre, died at the Garden City Clinic after suffering brain and liver damage and 12 broken ribs.

Her adoptive parents brought her to the hospital on Wednesday night after she had been vomiting continuously. She had bruises on her body and was said to be "listless* upon arrival.

When the doctor sent her for X-rays, it was discovered that she had terrible internal injuries.

She was then rushed to the intensive care unit of the hospital, said Johannesburg police spokesperson Constable Sefako Xaba.

Xaba said the Child Protection Unit was investigating the case, which he described as "very serious*.

He said the matter had first been reported to the police on Thursday.

Director of the Johannesburg Child Welfare Society Lyn Perry said Tammy had been adopted by the family when she was four months old. The society handled the adoption.

Perry said the social worker involved in the adoption was in contact with hospital authorities - who first alerted the police - and was "working closely* with the police. - DDC