Lebogang Mngomezulu had been on another assignment when she
received word of a 28-year-old pregnant woman lying on a pavement and crying
for help in Eloff street in Johannesburg's CBD.
As she parked near the scene, she was met by a woman who
had severe labour pains and whose cries could be heard from afar.
“I had no choice, I could not take her inside the
ambulance, watch or call for medical help, it was too late because her membrane
had already ruptured [water broke],” Mngomezulu told TimesLIVE.
Mngomezulu is employed in the accident investigation unit,
which on a daily basis deals with people seriously injured in accidents.
But the 47-year-old Soweto woman said her only experience
of childbirth was that of her own two children, who were now teenagers.
“Not even in my wildest dreams have I thought I would find
myself in such a situation, but I did.
“I had all sorts of thoughts but the one that dominated my
mind was the importance of saving their lives. I told myself that I have to do
it – and do it right – to save their lives,” she recalled.
Mngomezulu said the woman did not appear to have been on her
way to hospital as she only had a small handbag which she ended up using as a
pillow for her head on the hard pavement.
Mngomezulu took off her work jacket and used it as a
blanket for the woman.
She also parked her JMPD vehicle in a manner that afforded
the woman some privacy from passing motorists. She then took out "body
bags" from her vehicle and asked two bystanders to hold them up to shield
the woman from passersby.
“As I was still getting her to be comfortable, I noticed
something black… only to realise that it was the baby’s head. I was further
confused and started crying but gave her instructions that she must breathe in,
out and push…
"I told her to pretend as if she was in the loo… she
listened and the baby was born and fell into my hands,” she said.
While relieved at the successful delivery, Mngomezulu said
she was confronted by yet another problem when she realised she needed to cut
the umbilical cord – but she had no scissors.
“I had to drive around to a local station and was lucky to
meet a paramedic that had just knocked off from night shift, who luckily had a
kit and a pair of scissors. She assisted me and the duo were fine."
Following the delivery, the pair was taken to Hilbrow
Clinic by ambulance and mom and baby are said to be doing well, said JMPD
spokesperson Wayne Minnaar, who commended
Mngomezulu’s bravery and for going beyond the call of duty.
Four days after the ordeal, Mngomezulu said she was proud
to have saved the little girl but is somehow still haunted by thoughts of what
could have gone wrong.
“Everything could have gone wrong, that woman would have
had every right to sue JMPD because I am not a professional. I could have lost
my job.
“People have been praising me for bravery and I am
grateful. To look back and realise that everything went well is a relief. I am
really proud of myself, proud to have saved a life.”
Mngomezulu said her family was not entirely surprised by
the act. Her brother commented: “Well done, my sister, you know how we were
raised.”
She expressed gratitude to her parents who emphasised the
importance of selflessness and putting others first.
"My parents were something else. Growing up, I
remember how they taught us the importance of selflessness, sharing or
kindness.
"For example, when someone said they had no food, they
would take our bread and divide it into two, as to help the needy,” she added. Sowetan
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