March, 2025
Family seeks answers over stillbirth
A MOTHER’S HEARTBREAK
AN EXPERIENCE straight out of hell.
This is the only way to describe the ordeal of 24-year-old Ruwyda Owies of Rooiwal in the Northern Cape whose baby was stillborn while waiting for hours on an ambulance.
The Northern Cape Department of Health is currently investigating the case.
The pregnant Owies told N&S her excitement of giving birth to a healthy child turned into tragedy on Sunday, 23 February 2025.
“On that day at about half-past-three in the afternoon my water broke for the first time. I panicked and called the ambulance service, but the line stayed busy. At four o’clock, I hired private transport to take me to Vioolsdrift (10km away). Here the police also called the ambulance services in Springbok, (120km from Rooiwal),” said Owies.
Owies said they were told the paramedics had to go to three other towns before they could attend to her.
“I then went to the house of the Vioolsdrift clinic sister and told her that I was going into labour soon. She told me the clinic was closed over weekends and I should go back home to wait on the ambulance.”
Owies listened to her, but waited in vain for hours. She gave birth at 10pm that Sunday evening. But it was too late for the child.
“My baby boy’s pink little feet came out first, but his head was stuck. No one could help me.
“When his head finally came out, he was dead. Suffocated. When the police came to the house, they called the ambulance.”
Forensic staff from Springbok retrieved the baby’s remains from Owies’ home at 2.30am on Monday morning, 24 February 2025.
Just under two hours later, at 4.15am, the ambulance finally arrived at her home and took Owies to the Springbok hospital.
Ringo Isaacs, a community activist and friend of Owies, was very upset because he tried in vain to support the young mom.
“The Department of Health will have to take drastic action here. The baby could still have been alive, who knows. We’re looking for answers.”
The family is considering legal action against the department of health, according to Isaacs.
A spokesperson for the Northern Cape Department of Health, Lulu Mxekezo, expressed the department’s deepest and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved Owies family.
“We are investigating the incident and will update the family on the progress,” says Mxekezo.
Over 30000 to ride in Cape Town Cycle Tour
Cyclists gear up to race
MORE than 30000 cyclists will reach the pinnacle of the South African cycling season when they take part in the Cape Town Cycle Tour this Sunday, 9 March 2025.
Since 1978, the Cape Town Cycle Tour has taken cyclists of all ages on a plus 100km journey around the Cape Peninsula.
Since 1978, the Cape Town Cycle Tour has taken cyclists of all ages on a plus 100km journey around the Cape Peninsula.
This iconic event is a highlight of Cape Town and the Western Cape’s sporting calendar, attracting participants from across the country and around the world.
According to the WCG, major sporting events such as the Cape Town Cycle Tour bring many benefits to the province as international and domestic cyclists are expected to boost the already thriving tourism sector, which is critical to creating jobs.
MEC of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie, who will also be taking part, said: “We welcome all cyclists, and I am excited to see more and more people taking up cycling and living active and healthy lifestyles. Please be safe during the tour. All the best to the riders and the organisers. I look forward to seeing you out on the road.”
This year, in a world first, the Cape Town Cycle Tour will be inviting between 1 500 and 2000 of this year’s entrants to a free melanoma screening, conducted by dermatologists at the Cape Town Cycle Tour Lifecycle Expo.
“In 2024, the cycling community lost a dear friend, Tim Brink, to cancer. His battle began with a melanoma, which was only diagnosed after it had spread to surrounding areas. Tim was a celebrated journalist and accomplished cyclist, and this initiative, which we hope to extend in coming years, is a celebration of a great man, and a potentially life-saving intervention for event participants,” Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust Director, David Bellairs said.
Presented by Clicks, and with the support of Eucerin, La Roche- Posay, Bioderma, Dermalogica, Cipla and ISDIN, the melanoma screening will take place at the event’s Expo venue. All entrants will be invited, via email, to fill in a questionnaire which will indicate the most AT-RISK participants best suited to the screening.
Cyclists are particularly at risk of developing skin cancer due to a combination of factors related to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV).
Several Cape Town roads will be closed on Saturday and Sunday. Visit https://www.capetowncycletour.com/ for more information on road closures. Picture: capetowncycletour.com)
This iconic event is a highlight of Cape Town and the Western Cape’s sporting calendar, attracting participants from across the country and around the world.
According to the WCG, major sporting events such as the Cape Town Cycle Tour bring many benefits to the province as international and domestic cyclists are expected to boost the already thriving tourism sector, which is critical to creating jobs.
MEC of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie, who will also be taking part, said: “We welcome all cyclists, and I am excited to see more and more people taking up cycling and living active and healthy lifestyles. Please be safe during the tour. All the best to the riders and the organisers. I look forward to seeing you out on the road.”
This year, in a world first, the Cape Town Cycle Tour will be inviting between 1 500 and 2000 of this year’s entrants to a free melanoma screening, conducted by dermatologists at the Cape Town Cycle Tour Lifecycle Expo.
“In 2024, the cycling community lost a dear friend, Tim Brink, to cancer. His battle began with a melanoma, which was only diagnosed after it had spread to surrounding areas. Tim was a celebrated journalist and accomplished cyclist, and this initiative, which we hope to extend in coming years, is a celebration of a great man, and a potentially life-saving intervention for event participants,” Cape Town Cycle Tour Trust Director, David Bellairs said.
Presented by Clicks, and with the support of Eucerin, La Roche- Posay, Bioderma, Dermalogica, Cipla and ISDIN, the melanoma screening will take place at the event’s Expo venue. All entrants will be invited, via email, to fill in a questionnaire which will indicate the most AT-RISK participants best suited to the screening.
Cyclists are particularly at risk of developing skin cancer due to a combination of factors related to prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV).
Several Cape Town roads will be closed on Saturday and Sunday. Visit https://www.capetowncycletour.com/ for more information on road closures. (Sources: SAnews.gov.za, capetowncycletour.com)