SOPHY Mogapi’s baby was born prematurely and died after only two days.
But when the family arrived at Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital in Rustenburg, North West to collect the body of the little one, it was not there. Instead they found a much bigger baby, whose family had buried Sophy’s baby.
Sophy lives in Reagile, near Koster. She was first admitted to Koster Hospital on 19 August and was then transferred to Job Shimankana Tabane.
The baby offered to the family is still in the government mortuary.
Sophy’s angry uncle, Israel Mogapi (45), wants to know how it is possible for a two-day-old baby to be swapped for a baby that was already more than a year old.
The mix-up has caused 24-year-old Sophy emotional stress. On hearing of the incident, her aunt Anna Ntsime (77) suffered a heart attack and died.
Sophy’s cousin, Anna More, took over the battle on her behalf. Anna said officials admitted they were at fault.
Daily Sun is in possession of written minutes of meetings with officials in which they admit their mistake.
Israel said hospital management said the family should apply for a grave site.
“How will I know if the remains they give me will be that of our baby? We need a DNA test to be done on the remains they claim were buried by another family,” he said.
This seems to be a problem as the hospital doesn’t agree with DNA testing.
Health spokesman Tebogo Lekgethwane said the other family that was given the wrong baby also had a baby who was stillborn, and verification was done and papers were signed off by mortuary attendants.
“The hospital management has met both families more than once. We have sought assistance and permission from the municipality to do all it takes to confirm the identities of the babies, and then correct what needs to be corrected. Although the process is not yet completed we deeply regret the inconvenience and stress experienced by both families as a result,” he said.
