The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness announced 253 babies – 107 boys and 146 girls – were born at Western Cape public health facilities on 1 January 2024.
For Sr Marthinus this was nothing new as she often assists mothers who go into labour until the ambulance arrives to collect them and take them to the nearest hospital in Bredasdorp, roughly 33 km away. Only this time, the road between Struisbaai and Bredasdorp was flooded and there was no chance that an ambulance would be able to access the town and the patient.