A wave of grief and anger has engulfed the Westbury community following the tragic death of 32-year-old Miriam Singh and her unborn baby at the Westbury Clinic on Sunday, 29 December. Her boyfriend, Christopher Goliath (32), is demanding answers after Miriam's death during labour, leaving him heartbroken and seeking justice.
The couple arrived at the clinic shortly after 7am, filled with anticipation. Goliath recounted their arrival: "We were filled with joy, looking forward to leaving the facility with our baby."
However, their joy quickly turned to despair. Because the clinic was close to their home, the couple walked to the facility. Upon arrival, Goliath was barred from entering by security personnel. "I had to speak to her through the clinic's window,” he explained.
Despite the unusual circumstances, Miriam appeared cheerful. She even expressed hunger, prompting Goliath to briefly leave to buy her food from a nearby shop. This seemingly ordinary request would become the last time he saw her alive.
"She was excited and even complained that she was hungry. She asked me to rush to the local store to buy her food, so I left the clinic to buy food," Goliath recalled.
The devastating news awaited Goliath upon his return. "Twenty minutes later, I returned to the clinic. On my arrival, nurses told me that my girlfriend had died. I was shocked," he said.
He was left in the dark regarding the circumstances of her death, demanding answers from the clinic staff.
"I was in disbelief. I demanded answers, but no one seemed willing to respond,” he said. He further questioned the medical intervention: “Why would they induce pain when she was already in labour?”
The Gauteng Department of Health has acknowledged the incident, with spokesman Motalatale Modiba stating that the matter has been referred to the Quality Assurance unit for a thorough investigation: “It has now been handed over to Quality Assurance to investigate further, establish facts, and recommend if any further steps need to be taken. In the meantime, necessary tests such as postmortems are being done so as to not delay the family in terms of their other processes.” He confirmed that senior district officials are managing the situation.
Police are also investigating the circumstances surrounding Miriam's death. Police spokeswoman Dimakatso Nevhuhwili confirmed that an inquest docket has been opened, stating: "The cause of death is unknown, pending postmortem results."
The investigation will likely focus on the medical procedures performed at the clinic and whether any negligence contributed to the tragic outcome.
