On the 12th of March 2020, a pregnant woman believed to be in her late 30s gave birth on the side of the road at Ivory Park Extension 2. At around 8 o’clock in the morning. The woman who resides around the Ivory Park Taxi Rank was on her way to Bophelong Clinic for check ups.
On her way to the clinic, just a few meters away at Ndabezitha Street, the pregnant woman started feeling pains. After a few minutes her water broke. Members of the community came to the woman’s rescue and helped her to move to the pavement and covered her with blankets and towels.
A young lady named Belina Mokoena rushed to the nearby clinic for assistance. On arrival Belina was told that “the clinic doesn’t help anyone outside the premises of the clinic”. Attempts to seek assistance from the clinic and calls to ambulance service were fruitless.
Community members at the scene, Ma Mokwena and Ma Khoza assisted the helpless woman give birth. The woman gave birth to a healthy baby boy. She was lifted in a blanket with her new born baby and carried to the clinic. On arrival, the furious community demanded the woman to be assisted in which the clinic finally complied.
The Bophelong Clinic was not available for comment at the time of publishing.
Story contributed by Maechel Molekwa
