Family of abducted EC baby threatens to sue health department

May 23, 2025 72

The family of one of the two premature babies abducted from Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha on Tuesday has announced plans to sue the Eastern Cape Health Department, alleging that the infant’s already broken arm could have been worsened during the ordeal.

While the department has confirmed that it is investigating the incident.

The family says they were told not to worry after the child’s arm was sprained during delivery.

According to reports, the babies were removed from incubators in the hospital’s maternity ward.

The provincial health department says security tried to stop the women who were carrying a bag from entering the maternity ward, however one of them managed to evade the security.

One of the suspects is believed to have pretended to be pregnant with twins before fleeing with the newborns inside a bag.

The abducted infants have since been safely recovered and reunited with their mothers.

Eastern Cape Health MEC Ntandokazi Capa described the abduction as a carefully planned operation, adding that the department is cooperating fully with law enforcement authorities.

“The suspect (One of the women) tried to pretend as if she was pregnant and attempted to attend the Antenatal Care (ANC) and she was told that she is not pregnant.

“Unfortunately she did not tell the boyfriend that she was not pregnant because she had planned to commit the crime. She came in and registered under a false name, she’s been moving around the hospital, even the boyfriend brought her baby clothes because he thought they were expecting a child and according to her it was twins.”

Phumela Stofile who is an aunt to the new mom says the family is deeply concerned and uncertain about the long-term impact the injury could have on the child.

“We are going to need help and answers on the child’s arm because we don’t know, maybe the child might be disabled or might need to have the arm amputated in future, so we can’t just let it go.”

She says they did not recieve any explanation of how the child’s arm was broken.

“How did that happen when the child was delivered through a C-section? We were told that the child has small bones, but we just don’t understand that at all. We want answers.”

The two women arrested appeared the New Brighton Magistrates’ Court on Friday.

Written by: Lindiwe Mpanza

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