Bethal cops help deliver baby in front of police station

BETHAL – When visiting the clinic the morning of Monday, 19 April, Ms Blandina Tony was told by the nurses that her baby could only be expected next month, even though she was already in her ninth month of pregnancy.

Later that evening, just after 6pm, Ms Tony began experiencing discomfort and pain.

Concerned that the baby may be on his way, Ms Tony, her husband and his sister, Ms Falisha Mazinga, began the walk from their home in Moses Kotane Street to the Bethal Hospital.

Nearly a kilometre from home and right in front of the police station in Scheepers Street, Ms Tony was unable to walk further. She felt the baby was on the way.

Ms Tony’s sister-in-law tried frantically to wave down cars to stop and help but to no avail. She could do nothing but scream for help and hope someone would come to their aid.

“I was begging Blandina to force herself to carry on walking but she couldn’t. The baby was coming,” said Ms Mazinga.

“She was crying that the baby was coming out. I made her lay down and the baby was coming out in my hands.”

Meanwhile, Const Telane Lebitsa (29) who was in the police barracks that overlooks the street where the woman was giving birth, was alerted by her neighbour of the commotion going on outside.

Sgt Itumeleng Motalane (39) who was working her night shift in the Community Service Centre, was also alerted by a member of the public who was inside the centre at that time.

Both women ran out and went beyond the call of duty to assist in the birth of the baby boy, Rame Mazinga.

With both police women’s maternal instincts kicking in, they had to make do with what they had. There were no gloves.

With the help of Google home births and remembering scenes of similar situations on the popular TV show I didn’t know I was pregnant, the women put their hands and minds together to ensure a successful birth.

While Sgt Motalane was telling the mother to push, Const Lebitsa was running back from the barracks with blankets.

“When I got back I could see the head was already out and part of the baby’s body.

“I ran back to fetch a shoelace and by the time I got back, Sgt Motalane took the sanitised string from my hand and tied the umbilical cord with it,” said Const Lebitsa.

Ms Tony’s sister-in-law caught the baby.

The mother and baby were by then very cold and the mother began to lose a lot of blood. They could no longer wait for the ambulance services to arrive.

Both mother and baby were wrapped up in the blanket and transported to the hospital at the back of Const Lebitsa’s bakkie.

“When they arrived at the hospital the mother, who was still in the back of the bakkie with the baby between her breasts, had to push out the placenta that was attached to the umbilical cord.

“We cut the cord right there at the back of the bakkie,” said Const Lebitsa.

Ms Tony’s family is extremely grateful to the policewomen.

“The feeling is indescribable. Thank you is just not enough. I respect these women,” said Ms Mazinga, who was speaking on behalf of the family.

Little Rame, who weighed 2.5kg at birth, has since been discharged from the hospital and both mother and baby are recovering well at their home in Bethal.

Const Lebitsa said that there is a need to equip police with basic first aid skills.

She hopes that the government will see this as “one step closer” to providing police with the necessary first aid skills.

“At college, we are taught that a police officer is never off duty, I am passionate about what I do and love to help people.”

When asked how she feels being hailed as one of the heroes who helped in the delivery of the baby, Const Lebitsa said she sees herself as the Lord’s servant.

“If I have to serve Him through my work, then that is what I will do. I feel good that this all had a happy ending,” concluded Const Lebitsa.