A court will decide the future of two little girls who were given to the wrong mums after a mix-up in a maternity unit after they were born.
The girls, who were both born on the same day in 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa, were handed to the wrong mothers after staff at the hospital made a mistake.
The error only emerged when the ex-husband of one of the women wanted a DNA test to determine whether he was the child's father - only to discover that neither parent was biologically related to the girl.
After the mix-up had been identified, both women entered counselling sessions together that included meeting their biological children.
However, while one wishes to correct the error and raise her biological child, the other has refused.
Henk Strydom, a lawyer representing the mother who wishes to be reunited with her child, described the situation as a “tragedy”.
“She said there are resemblances to herself. She conveyed to me that it was traumatic. You can see it’s not easy for her. She has to care for a child that is not hers on her own while her child is with someone else,” he said.
“She wants the baby back but it seems the other mother is reluctant. It’s four years later: you can understand she doesn’t want to give up her baby," he added.
The case is currently before the North Gauteng High Court who will determine whether the children should be returned to their biological mothers.
The families are of Zulu ethnicity so Zulu tradition, culture and customary law will be considered as part of the case. Neither of the families can be identified for legal reasons.
Such a heartbreaking case.
