Stillbirths We Can Prevent — Accountability Mpumalanga Owes Families

Stillbirth is one of the most painful losses a family can face, and it is a loss that, far too often, could have been prevented. Globally, nearly two million babies were stillborn last year. Shockingly, almost half of these deaths happened during labour — the very moment when skilled staff, proper monitoring, and swift medical response could make the difference between life and death. This is not simply bad luck; it is a reflection of how reliable, or unreliable, our health systems truly are.

Here in Mpumalanga, answers remain hard to find. The provincial Department of Health has not released its stillbirth statistics for August 2025. Yet courtrooms continue to reveal the truth families face. In June 2025, the Mpumalanga High Court awarded damages in the case of Z.N. obo N. v MEC for Health, Mpumalanga Province. The court found that negligent care during labour caused severe brain injury to a newborn child, leading to cerebral palsy and, later, his death. The mother, who initially claimed R4 million, was awarded R540,000 in damages. The judge acknowledged that no amount of money could truly compensate for the child’s suffering — but the judgment made clear that systemic negligence in maternity care has devastating consequences.

The World Health Organisation points to well-known causes: complications during labour, untreated infections, unmanaged high blood pressure or diabetes, and growth problems that go unnoticed. These are not rare medical puzzles; they are everyday matters in maternity care. With consistent monitoring, proper screening, timely treatment, and quick access to emergency caesarean sections when needed, many lives can be saved.

So, what needs to change? First, transparency. The Department should publish monthly data on stillbirths at each hospital, alongside clear explanations of causes and lessons learnt. Second, basics must be guaranteed in every labour ward: enough staff on duty day and night, working monitoring equipment, and clear procedures for emergencies. Third, women must be treated with respect. No one should be turned away in labour. A simple hotline for patients, visible progress dashboards in wards, and firm accountability would help rebuild trust. When negligence is proven in court, the response should not end with a payout — it must lead to audits, retraining, and stronger systems.

Communities in Mpumalanga carry the sorrow of these avoidable losses. It is time for the health system to carry its share of the responsibility. Stillbirths should not be dismissed as inevitable statistics. They are a measure of the quality of our healthcare — and we cannot afford to look away while the numbers stay the same.