The MEC for Heath and Social Development, Dr Norman Mabasa, promised a thorough investigation into allegations that a woman lost her baby in front of laughing nurses at a local hospital.

Ms Nominyikelo Mzimba (29) of Shihosani village outside Malamulele told Limpopo Mirror that she was recently taken to the Nkhesani Hospital in Giyani by her husband. She experienced excruciating labour pains, she said.

According to her, she started to bleed and asked two nurses who were working the nightshift to help her to deliver her baby. “My child was stuck, because she was very big. When I cried for the two nurses to help me, they said they were not there when I made the child and started laughing at me,” said Mzimba

“My child only survived for a few minutes. These nurses are cruel,” she added.

A nurse, who did not want to be named, said the child haddied because her lungs had collapsed because she had been trapped in her mother.

Mabasa said if his investigations revealed any form of neglect, his department would take very serious steps. “We are very disturbed about the allegation of negligence and will dispatch our team to investigate the allegation as soon as possible,” he added.