Alex Matlala

Alex Matlala

When it comes to delivering it appears the ambulance service in Limpopo might be rather unreliable.

But for Mapula Malatjie of Namakgale township, near Phalaborwa, help arrived from an unexpected source as she began to give birth to her baby on Thursday.

She was told by Maphutha Malatjie Hospital that an ambulance could not fetch her. She then began walking to the hospital, some distance from her home .

When she realised the birth of her baby was imminent she sat down under a tree near a liquor store. A woman saw Malatjie crying and went to help. The Good Samaritan helped Malatjie deliver the baby, using a broken beer bottle to cut the umbilical cord.

A group of inebriated men fetched water and washed the mother and her baby.

Malatjie was admitted to hospital and discharged the next day. But her baby was running a high fever. When she wanted to return to the hospital her family told her to go to a sangoma.

Phuti Seloba, spokesman for the Department of Health and social development, said the department would investigate the allegations.