Western Cape police arrested the woman on Monday after neighbours told police she had left her three children alone for four days, said police spokesperson FC van Wyk.
He said she abandoned the children after going on a drinking spree.
“Neighbours called in the police after they found the children hungry, dirty and reeking of pee. The children aged 1, 3 and 9 years old were all placed in a place of safety by the Department of Social Development (DSD).”
Van Wyk said the mother went looking for her children and still smelt of alcohol when she was arrested.
The 35-year-old mother was due to appear in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.