Mmboneni Musingadi (17), the young mother who gave birth to her baby boy in the street in Makhado last Tuesday, said that she would never set her foot again in that hospital, since she had lost trust in the facility and the doctors.

Mmboneni said that none of the health practitioners at the Louis Trichardt Memorial hospital have yet apologised for what they had done to her. "If the Vhathu Phanda principle is practically implemented at the hospital, I think the hospital management would have disciplined the doctor, who prescribed pain killers for me. To save more lives and to show that they care about us, they must release him from duty," she said.

The Grade 10 learner at Mmilige Secondary School at Midoroni Ha-Kutama went to the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital with severe labour pains, as she was due to give birth on October 10. Her referral letter to the hospital, which she had received from Tshikwarani clinic, was useless to the doctor who attended to her, as he prescribed pain killers and sent her home as "it was not yet time for her to give birth".

As a result of the severe labour pain when leaving the hospital, Mmboneni could not walk long distances without sitting down several times, but when she arrived at the Correctional Service Centre, Makhado, she felt an excruciating pain. She then decided to lie down on the ground and gave birth to her baby boy. Mmboneni was assisted by her mother, Marandela Musingadi, and prison warders during the birth.

When she was released from the hospital last Wednesday, both Mmboneni and her mother declined to talk to the media or to pose for a photograph. Upon visiting Mmboneni at her home at Midoroni on Monday, the young mother apologised to Mirror. "I treated you badly, because of the frustration and embarrassment caused by health practitioners of Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital. I never thought that might happen to me. I was confused, because after giving birth on the street, no counselling was offered to me at the hospital," she said.

Mmboneni said that when her mother came with a copy of Mirror last Friday, she burn it. "I want everyone to understand my situation. I burn that copy out of frustration, but the moment other villagers began to talk about it, I came back to my senses and realised that the article was meant to assist me; that´s why I am now apologising," she said. Mmboneni confirmed that officials at the hospital took a statement on what had happened to her.

"I know the doctor who prescribed pain killers and sent me away. This means that there are wrong people at the wrong place. I will never go to that hospital again," she said. Mmboneni, who said that she was still frightened by the ordeal, said that she is seeking legal assistance in order to sue the Department of Health and Social Development. "I did not lodge the complain at the hospital ant that does not mean that I am happy about what happened to me. How can you trust somebody who treated you so badly?".

During Mirror´s visit, the baby looked healthy, beautiful and happy. His name is Humbulani. The Provincial Organising Secretary of the South African National Civic Association (Sanco), Mr James Delekisa, said that it was time for senior officials within the Department of Health and Social Development to come out strongly and seriously address the issue of the neglecting of patients at the hospital. "We have always heard of neglecting of patients at this hospital and this means that the Vhathu Phanda principle is not effective at the hospital. As the mouthpiece of villagers, we are saying enough is enough," he said.

The provincial spokesperson of the department, Mr Phuthi Seloba, indicated that his department was still trying to analyse the report about the matter they had received from the hospital. "I will not give details of internal investigations at this stage. As long as the investigations are internal, you cannot begin to make noise and say anything," he said. When asked if the internal investigations have time frames, Seloba said "Yes, but as you know, we can’t say, we will be finished on this day. Our anticipation was to complete the internal investigations within this week. I will comment about this matter after the end of this week," he said.