The Pinetown family violence child protection and sexual offences unit in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal, is searching for the parents of a week-old abandoned baby.

The baby was found on December 29, 2018, by a passer-by who heard cries from the bushes next to a railway line in Embo.

"He decided to check where the cries were coming from and, to his surprise, he saw a baby wrapped in a blue and white blanket ... the baby was wearing a white romper," KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said in a statement on Tuesday.

Hillcrest police arrived at the scene after the passer-by contacted local authorities.

The baby was taken for medical examination and found to be in a healthy state.

Police are urging anyone with information on the parents of the baby to come forward.

KEEP UPDATED on the latest news by subscribing to our FREE newsletter.

- FOLLOW News24 on Twitter