Cornelle Meiring (55), a mathematics literacy and consumer studies teacher at Calitzdorp Hoërskool in the Klein Karoo, helped Anneesha van Wyk give birth last Thursday (May 7) amid devastating heavy rain and strong winds in the Western Cape. 

Meiring, who has no medical experience, believes she was ‘used by God’ to safely bring the as-yet-unnamed baby girl into the world. 

Heavy rain caused the Olifants River to overflow, cutting off access to the road leading to Meiring’s farm in Uilkraal, where both she and the new mother live, and preventing medical services from reaching them. 

Meiring, a grandmother of two, stepped in to assist, with paramedic Janine Ruiters-Makier guiding her over a video call. 

“I was very glad the moment the baby’s head emerged because then I knew everything would be fine,” she adds. 

Meiring described cutting the umbilical cord as ‘scary’. 

“I was afraid something might go wrong, but thank God everything went perfectly fine. I tied the umbilical cord in four places to make sure everything was secure and intact,” she adds. 

Meiring says the experience was wonderful. 

“I have learnt from all of this how precious life is and that God gave us life and has a plan for every one of us. You are not just here on Earth for yourself. You are here to glorify His name and to help others. I just tried to do that,” she adds. 

Meiring says it was rewarding to help someone in need. “God just used me. Both the mother and baby are doing well.” 

In a statement, the Garden Route District Municipality said the mother and her newborn were later airlifted for medical assessment by a Department of Health Emergency Medical Services helicopter.  
 
Although Van Wyk posed for a photo and agreed that her name be used in the article, Caxton Network News has been unable to reach her for a personal interview.

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