PORT ELIZABETH - 'FOETUSES IN FREEZER' WOMEN RELEASED ON R5000 BAIL

Two women accused of aborting 25 foetuses and disposing of the bodies were released on bail of R5 000 each in the Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s Court on Friday.

A registered nurse, Lulama Cabela, and her alleged receptionist Babalwa Cabela, are facing 25 counts of concealment of birth.

During court proceedings on Friday, the investigating officer’s affidavit described how he had obtained a search warrant and went to visit the clinic in Central Port Elizabeth and discovered frozen foetuses in red packets packed to the brim.

“I went into the office and opened a chest freezer, I opened red packets which contained frozen foetuses..I also confiscated medicine, equipment and documentation used for abortions,” the affidavit read.

The women were arrested in February following an ongoing investigation into illegal abortions in Nelson Mandela Bay.

Police discovered several foetuses packed into a deep freezer, with 25 of the bodies being fully formed.

Police earlier said that the ongoing investigation followed complaints from a hospital which dealt with complications in patients that arose from illegal abortions.

The charge sheet indicated that Lulama Cabela was employed as a registered nurse at a facility which provided pre-natal and post-natal care to mother and child.

The state alleges that the nurse used the facility and her home to perform abortions on pregnant women from the 13 week gestation period onwards.

The state did not oppose bail on Friday and said that the offences fell under a schedule 1 offence.

Their bail conditions include 24-hour house arrest, while both women were ordered to report to the Humewood Police station twice a week.

African News Agency