The Manqele family from Daveyton is demanding answers from the Far East Rand Hospital after a 15-year-old teenage mother was allegedly left unattended while in labor, forcing her to give birth to twins without medical assistance late last month.
Neglect Leads to Tragic Outcome
According to reports, the young mother was repeatedly neglected by hospital staff despite being in labor. She eventually delivered her premature twins on her own. Tragically, one of the babies was stillborn, while the other survived birth but later passed away. The family claims that the hospital’s delayed response may have contributed to the second twin’s death.
Family’s Meeting with the Hospital
This afternoon, the Manqele family met with hospital officials to seek clarity on the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident. The young mother’s own mother, Nelisiwe Manqele, was allegedly asked to sign a consent form for the cremation of the twins without being given proper information about what had happened. This lack of transparency has left the family frustrated and demanding accountability.
Hospital’s Response and Family’s Rejection
In response to media inquiries, the Far East Rand Hospital’s Communications Department released a statement explaining the situation. According to the hospital, the teenage mother was admitted to the gynecology ward at 25 weeks pregnant with an “inevitable miscarriage.” The hospital claimed that one twin died within 24 hours, while the second was stillborn. Due to the babies’ low birth weight, their bodies could not be released for burial, the hospital added, attaching photos to support their statement.
However, the Manqele family has strongly contested this response, insisting that the hospital failed to provide timely medical assistance, which could have altered the outcome.
Calls for Justice and Accountability
The grieving family is now demanding a thorough investigation into the incident and accountability from the hospital. They believe their daughter and her twins were failed by the healthcare system and that proper intervention could have saved at least one of the babies.
This tragic case has raised concerns about the treatment of young and vulnerable patients in public hospitals. The family hopes that by speaking out, they can prevent similar incidents from happening to others.