Protests erupt over death of Mirriam Singh and unborn child

Tensions erupted in Westbury as residents protested the recent death of 32-year-old Mirriam Singh, who passed away alongside her unborn child on December 29, 2024.

Having already held a first protest on the December 31, last year, the community had yet another protest to show the severity of their feelings about Mirriam’s passing.

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The protest highlighted community outrage and calls for justice surrounding the circumstances of her death. Shahied Singh, Mirriam’s brother, expressed his shock and grief, stating: “I was in shock. I did not believe it. For a healthy person to just die so suddenly with no reason…”

He voiced frustration with the clinic staff, questioning the treatment Mirriam received. “What injection did you give her? She told me she does not know. I am taking things on the first word. If you speak the truth, you are not fit or qualified to work with such medication,” he said.

Shahied underscored the contradictions in the clinic’s account of events, insisting: “We want justice. We want the truth to come out.” Mirriam’s death left four children behind, including one who was stillborn. Shahied conveyed the family’s heartache, saying: “They are still small. They are still in school. How are we going to cope with them?”

He implored the community to support their quest for justice, emphasising the need for transparency in the investigation.

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Natalie Solomons, a representative of the Women EmpowHERment platform, joined the protest and highlighted the broader implications of Mirriam’s death. “Too many of these incidents are happening, and if we let this go, it will just be a continuation of what occurred here,” she said. Solomons pointed out that Mirriam had no underlying health issues and questioned the circumstances leading to her death.

“How do you walk down to the clinic and 20 minutes later, you are gone? It does not make sense,” she added. The community has been actively seeking legal representation to ensure that the case does not fade from public attention.

Community activist Melissa Davids also raised concerns about the clinic’s handling of Mirriam’s case, criticising the lack of concrete evidence. “I want to know… Will you really believe and take that report seriously? A life has been lost, not a dog or cat, a woman and her unborn child’s life,” she stated.

Davids called for accountability, arguing that the existing medical reports are filled with contradictions, ranging from claims of hemorrhage to heart issues and kidney disease.

In response to the ongoing protests, Gauteng Health Department spokesperson Motalalate Modiba stated that an internal investigation concluded that the medical staff at the clinic’s Midwifery Obstetric Unit (MOU) had not been negligent.

“The department received the outcome of the internal investigation, which was also subjected to expert review by leading specialists in obstetrics, gynaecology, and surgery from Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital,” Modiba explained.

He added that the department has already engaged with the Singh family to address their concerns.

However, the community remains skeptical, insisting that the investigation’s findings lack credibility and that they will continue to fight for justice for Mirriam Singh and her children. As calls for accountability grow, the tragic loss continues to resonate deeply within the community of Westbury.

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