8 October 2026 by Limpho Sello

The family of a woman who died at Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital (QMMH) after giving birth to twins alleges the hospital wanted to blame her death on a wound it claimed she came with, or that it may have been caused by ulcers. The claim was despite a post-mortem indicating that Sebolelo Makhasane died from a perforation of the large bowel – a hole in large intestine.

The family alleges this was shared during a meeting between the family and the hospital on 6 October 2026, following Makhasane’s death on 20 September 2026, just a day after giving birth to twins.

The family says the 36-year-old Makhasane never suffered from ulcers and did not present to the hospital with the wound. It is further calling this a bluff because Makhasane attended her antenatal clinic at the hospital and was never diagnosed with an internal wound.

“The hospital wanted to suggest that the deceased came to the hospital with that wound or that her death was ulcer-related. They also suggested that she might have had that wound before coming to the hospital because they don’t know its cause or how she suffered it,” said a family member who requested not to be named.

She added: “The deceased did not have ulcer problems nor any injuries. She was not sick at all. She was a normal pregnant woman who attended antenatal clinic at that hospital and they could have picked it up if she had those injuries.”

She said when the family disagreed with the hospital’s explanation of the cause of Makhasane’s death, a doctor who performed the post-mortem was called to explain the cause of her death. The doctor was allegedly put on speakerphone so that both parties could hear the explanation at the same time.

“He was put on loudspeaker. He said it is an internal wound, it is not an external wound in any way. He went as far as concluding that the wound could have occurred during the surgery.”

Makhasane gave birth through a C-section and died the second day after complications from the surgery conducted at QMMH.

“They ended up admitting to their problem, saying it may be like that (she died from perforation of the large bowel caused by the surgery during labour). It was a verbal admission, during the physical meeting.”

She said it was concluded that the two sides would have further conversations after the funeral. The family has not concluded on the date of the meeting because they are in the middle of funeral preparations.

“The post-mortem says she died from a perforation of the large bowel. A report was given to the family, although it does not include the verbal agreement that she may have died due to perforation of the large bowel. This agreement was reached after both parties resolved to call a doctor who conducted a postmortem to give clarity.”

Makhasane will be laid to rest on 11 October 2026 in Qacha’s Nek.