A dead newborn baby girl was found in a waste bag by refuse workers in Bronkhorstspruit on Friday, Pretoria police said.

Spokesperson Johannes Jaftha said a waste truck picked up the bag and dumped it at a site in Zitobeni.

"Refuse workers who opened the bag to separate the trash found the dead baby wrapped in a blanket."

A post mortem will be conducted to find out the cause of death.

Police have opened up an inquest docket.