Pertunia Ratsatsi

Pertunia Ratsatsi

Three unborn babies almost died when their mother fell on her stomach while trying to flee from a mob in Tembisa on the East Rand.

Otelia Nxabane is receiving treatment at the Tembisa Hospital after giving birth to triplets, a boy and two girls, on Monday.

Thabo, Tsakane and Nkesani were born prematurely after their mother fell on her stomach while fleeing from xenophobic attackers in Mqantsa section on Monday morning.

"I was still sleeping when I heard people screaming outside," Nxabane said. "Suddenly a group of locals banged on my door and told me to get out. I grabbed a few items and followed the other foreigners.

"I was so afraid that I tripped and fell on my stomach. But I managed to get to the police station where they took us to Rabasotho Hall."

Nxabane started feeling labour pains at the hall.

"I was taken to hospital in the afternoon and finally gave birth to my three babies during the night," she said. "They are my first babies and I was afraid I might lose them because they did not come at the right time.

"I am devastated because I can't go back to were I was living. My babies have no food or clothes."

Nxabane will be taken back to Rabasotho Hall when she is discharged from hospital. She will sleep on the floor and wait for food donations.

Nxabane has been in South Africa since 1992.

Another pregnant woman, Annah Masimba, 29, is also receiving treatment after being hit in the waist by attackers in the same area.

She is also due to give birth soon.

More than 400 foreigners are accommodated at the hall. There are more than 10 pregnant women and 163 children.

Four people died and more than 60 shacks were burned during the attacks in Tembisa.