Mother gives birth alone in dark

GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - A brave Kroonvale mother was literally left in the dark when she gave birth to a baby boy during load shedding late on 12 March.

Simony van Rooyen was asleep in a one-bedroom house on Angora Street, which she shares with two adults and seven children, when the baby decided to make his arrival at 11.30pm.

Her mother, Bettie, ran to the neighbours to call an ambulance, but, perhaps due to load shedding, the call failed. In the meantime, Van Rooyen positioned herself to give birth in the living room alone, while family members and neighbours ran around looking for assistance.

But own transport is scarce in Kroonvale, and 10 minutes after the first contraction, Van Rooyen gave birth alone.

Mother Bettie came back just in time to catch the baby, wrap him in a towel and lay him in his mother's arms.

At around 1am, Glenda Mackelina from Angora Street arrived with off-duty ambulance man Harry Jooste. The umbilical cord was cut, and mother and baby were transported to Midland Hospital for the necessary medical care.

Van Rooyen and her bundle of joy returned home the same day, where he met his siblings Dean (8), Rushdene (6) and Rushnick (4).

Glenda Mackelina and Simony van Rooyen with Gladwill. Photo: Christo Vermaak

"He is the light of my life," said single mother Van Rooyen on Sunday 22 March. "His eyes are open and misses nothing." Luxury is something the family is unused to, as they survive on two individual's social grants, but there is no shortage of love in the house.