This is the final report of the Office of the Health Ombud (the Ombud) issued in terms of Section 81A (11) of the
National Health Amendment Act (NHAA), 12 of 2013, to inform the complainant and respondents of his findings
and recommendations.

The Report communicates the Ombud’s findings and recommendations in terms of section 81A (11) of the NHAA,
following a complaint into allegations of the circumstances relating to the care of expectant mothers at Rahima
Moosa Mother and Child Hospital (RMMCH) in Gauteng Province.

The complaint was lodged by a Member of Parliament’s Health Portfolio Committee, Hon. Haseenabanu Ismail
(Hon. H Ismail) on 06 April 2022. The complaint was risk-rated high and allocated Reference No: 32357.

The complaint was prompted by two main factors, including the media uproar sparked by video footage published
by News24 and an email from Ms. Salma Bhikhoo (Ms. S Bhikhoo) relating to the unpleasant conditions found at RMMCH when she took a family member, Ms. Nazeerah Ismail (Ms. N Ismail), to the hospital for delivery.

Report by the Health Ombud