Bereaved families prepare for exhumation after wrong baby buried

The families of two newborn babies who died at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, and whose mix-up led to one family burying the wrong infant, are now preparing for an exhumation.

Pelisa Ngxale, who was transferred from Fort Beaufort Hospital, had a stillbirth at Cecilia Makiwane on November 8.

Her family said the remains of her baby girl were meant to be sent back to Fort Beaufort, but for more than two weeks they have had no answers from authorities about the whereabouts of the body.

Also on November 8, Ntombovuyo Tom’s fourday-old daughter died at Cecilia Makiwane following complications. Tom had also been transferred from Fort Beaufort Hospital.

The infant’s body was sent to that hospital and was buried on November 11 by the Tom family, from Emagaleni, who believed the remains were those of their baby daughter, Alulutho.

However, in a shock twist, the families were told this week that there may have been a mix-up with the babies.

Tom travelled back to Cecilia Makiwane on Wednesday where she positively id ifi d h i f been informed that our own baby has since been found in the hospital.”

The Tom family said they were unhappy with the treatment received from hospital officials.

“They showed no compassion and they lacked care while we were traumatised for losing our baby and for having found that we buried the wrong one.

“It’s a double trauma for us as the family,” Tom said.

Ngxale’s mother, Noma Ngxale, said an official from the department of health promised them the use of a TLB (tractor loader backhoe) for the exhumation.

“The official told us it’s only the TLB that we will get from them.

“We don’t have money for a coffin and all the other related costs for the burial.

“I have been having sleepless nights ever since the incident of the disappearance our baby.

“Pelisa is not coping and I have decided to stand up for her,” Noma said.

The Dispatch asked Tom if she was certain the baby she would now bury was in fact hers.

“I am convinced she is my baby. I don’t think there is a need for a DNA [test],” she said.

Provincial health spokesperson Yonela Dekeda confirmed the remains of the second baby at Cecilia Makihdb h dd