Man Arrested After Three-Year-Old Girl Found Alone On Sea Point Promenade

A three-year-old girl was rescued by police after she was discovered sitting alone on the Sea Point Promenade in Cape Town on Youth Day, leading to the arrest of a 32-year-old man.

The child was found without any adult supervision as crowds gathered in the area on Tuesday. Police later opened a child abandonment case after tracing the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Sea Point Promenade Child Found Alone By Concerned Runners

The Sea Point Promenade incident unfolded on Tuesday while Public Order Policing (POPS) officers were deployed in the area to monitor a protest march.

According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), runners repeatedly passed the young girl sitting by herself before alerting police officers nearby. The child was eventually taken into the care of officers after concerns were raised about her safety.

She was found near the iconic Mandela glasses installation on the promenade.

Police Investigation Leads To Arrest In Child Abandonment Case

The Sea Point Promenade child rescue quickly developed into a police investigation. Officers reportedly questioned the girl about her family, and she pointed towards a block of flats across Beach Road.

An Independent Media photojournalist who witnessed the incident described how several officers crossed the road to investigate.

“I took a picture of the police officer and the baby.

“When I asked the officer what was happening, she said that the baby was alone.

“They asked the girl where her mother was, and she pointed to a flat.

“Five officers crossed the road and went to the flat.

“Later I saw them taking this man away.

“They told me that they were arresting him as they suspected him of human trafficking.”

Police later clarified that the arrest was linked to a child abandonment investigation.

Sea Point Promenade Child Handed To Social Development Officials

Western Cape police confirmed that a man later arrived and identified himself as the child’s father. Following further inquiries, a child abandonment case was registered.

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk said: “Kindly be advised that POPS members were doing visible policing at a protest march today, Tuesday, 16 June 2026, at the Sea Point Promenade.

“A girl child was found sitting all by herself by runners who passed her several times and alerted the members.

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“The members took the child to Sea Point SAPS and did some investigations in the area.

“Later, a male came and reported that he is the father of the child. A child abandonment case was opened for investigation.

“A 32-year-old male was arrested and will appear in court soon for the mentioned charge.

“The child was handed over to personnel of the Department of Social Development.”

The Western Cape Depar tment of Social Development had not responded to media enquiries at the time of publication.