Former midwife, who allegedly caused complicated births, to finally be prosecuted

Yolande Maritz, a disgraced and deregistered nurse, will finally face prosecution for allegedly administering medication to pregnant women that is suspected of causing birth complications. Carien Möller and Alysia von Kloëg are represented by AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, which has been pressuring the NPA to enrol the case. Maritz, a midwife, has been summoned to appear in court on 24 July, 2024 on assault charges.

“For a year and a half the Private Prosecution Unit committed itself to supporting Carien and Alysia in their quest for justice and to ensure that Maritz is held responsible for her conduct,” said Barry Bateman, spokesperson for the unit. 

Möller and Von Kloëg filed criminal complaints in 2020 and 2022 respectively, because birthing complications, under Maritz’s care as a midwife, led to the death of the Von Kloëg’s baby boy nine days after his birth, and left Möller’s daughter with cerebral palsy.  In 2021, Maritz was found guilty of negligent and unprofessional behaviour by the South African Nursing Council and deregistered her as a midwife. She appealed the finding, but it was dismissed.

The Private Prosecution Unit started engagements with the NPA in January 2023, after the pair expressed concern about the case’s slow progress and the NPA’s lack of communication.

“The unit is relieved that the matter has been enrolled, but it should not have taken so long. In February this year, when the case had still not been enrolled, the unit informed the NPA that their failure to prosecute timeously provided an opportunity for Maritz to continue with her practice, potentially harming more expectant mothers,” said Bateman.