Two women in court on 25 counts of concealment of birth

Following the discovery of several foetuses, reportedly packed into a freezer, police last week arrested one woman following a raid which formed part of an ongoing investigation into illegal abortions in Nelson Mandela Bay.

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

According to the charge sheet Lulama Cabela and Babalwa Cabela allegedly concealed the births of 25 unknown children and disposed of the bodies.

The charge sheet at this stage is still provisional.

The charge sheet further indicates that Lulama Cabela was employed as a registered nurse at a facility which provided prenatal and postnatal 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 13th week gestation period.

According to South African law women are entitled to have an abortion without consulting a medical practitioner only during the first three months of pregnancy.

An abortion conducted from 13 weeks of pregnancy and onwards can only be done in consultation with a medical practitioner.

The state further alleges that the "Mother and Child Health Care" facility was not accordingly approved in terms of a place or environment where abortions may be performed.

Magistrate Lise Keech postponed the matter to 1 March.

Both women are being detained at the Humewood Police Station.