A newborn baby was found dead in Actonville in Benoni on Monday morning, police said.

Spokesperson Godin Nyathi said the baby was found in a rubbish dump near a railway line.

Nyathi said a woman's clothing and underwear were found about 100 metres from the dead baby.

He said the police could not determine the sex of the baby as rats had eaten parts of its body.

He said the baby body was found by members of the community.

The police were investigating a case of murder.