Lack of Assistance/Proof of Address

This is an email sent to Mowbray last week. I called and was told that heir facilities manager is currently on leave then they put me on hold only to drop the call. Thus far there is no change, no response, no care, no assistance. I dont know what to do anymore. I am due in February and THIS is where I am suppose to go? THESE are the people I should trust with my life and the life of my unborn child?

Good day Jessica/ To whom it may concern

My name is Cindy Christians and I am a 36 year old woman, currently 27 weeks pregnant with my 4th child.

On the 18th of May 2025 I attended Claremont Clinic where I reside, for my first prenatal visit. All checks were done accordingly and my next appointment was scheduled for the 2nd of July 2025.

On the 2nd of July 2025 at my 2nd prenatal appointment I mentioned that I was having severe headaches, nausea and blurry vision. I mentioned that I was concerned about my blood pressure as I did not have these symptoms prior nor did i have them with my previous pregnancies. My BP had usually been low but since the pregnancy it has fluctuated many times. They advised that I should watch myself, gave me some tips on how to keep it under control and sent me home with my next prenatal visit being on the 15th of August 2025.

As before, I attended Claremont Clinic on the allocated date and this is when I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. At this time I was only 12 weeks pregnant. The nursing sister then called Dr. Grunner at Groote Schuur Hospital, whereby he confirmed this telephonically and then advised that she give me some paracetamol for the headaches and write me a referral to collect the medication at Retreat Hospital as Claremont Clinic does not stock the medication I need, Aldomet 500mg.

They initially said that I need to collect the Aldomet 500mg at Retreat Hospital and to not return to Claremont Clincic but instead go to Mowbray Maternity Hospital on the 21 August 2025 due to it now being a high risk pregnancy. The very next day I went to Retreat unaware that their pharmacy is closed on a Saturday. I then went to collect the medication the following Monday at around 6am before they opened. The pharmacist at Retreat Hospital then abruptly said that I cannot just come there for medication and that I will need to see a doctor first. After a day long wait I had opened a file at Retreat and eventually went in to see the doctor who confirmed that I cannot have pre-eclampsia because I am not far along enough to be diagnosed with the condition. He also made sure that I had no blood pressure issues prior and that it is pregnancy related. He then gave me a script for 2 weeks which I received before getting home at 16.30pm that day.

As advised by Claremont, I then attended my first prenatal appointment at Mowbray Maternity Hospital on the 21 August 2025. This was the very first time I was asked if I was a home owner or leasing property and because I was renting they told me that I will have to provide a lease agreement, the owners utility bill and the owners ID. I then explained that myself and my husband are residing at 2 Church Street Cliffords Court Claremont and that I have been living here since the 1st of January 2025. In July 2025 the previous owner sold the property to the new owners and gave us a call to make us aware. The new owners are not from this country, they are from Pakistan or Bangladesh. I explained that I do not know them but that we have had a verbal agreement to continue the original lease. I explained that I could ask but that I am not sure if they could help as I myself do not know them and that I doubt I would be able to get a utility bill as I think they were still in the process of taking ownership.

The doctor at MMH then probed for more info asking if I am a South African citizen before reiterating that they cannot assist me due to the fact that I dont have these documents and there is nothing they can do about it. I responded that I am a South African citizen and that I was born here. This left me extremely stressed and disoriented not knowing how I was going to provide the documents so that I could just be assisted and get my meds sorted asap. I then went to Lansdowne Clinic and asked if they could help me and they also turned me away stating that they are a lower level Clinic and that they cannot help me because I was referred to MMH because this is a high risk pregnancy and that is why I have been referred up.

At this point I felt hopeless and decided to return to MMH on the 4th of September 2025. When my turn came to see the doctor I explained again and in further detail that I have spoken to my new landlord with no luck, I asked him for advise on what to do and even suggested that I get an affidavit to confirm everything. He was very arrogant and rude and barely gave me a chance to speak, arguing that he cannot help he even if he wanted to. He said an affidavit is unacceptable and that for all he knows I could be living on the other side of the world, he then went on to say that I would need to sort out the situation I got myself into. He mentioned that until I have the documents, I should not come back there and that I am "more than welcome" to go back to Claremont until I can provide the documentation if i want to be helped. He said that is my only way to "get your foot in the door here" and that if he helps me then he must do the same for everyone. I remained calm knowing that stress in a situation like this isn't good for any pregnant woman especially one who is now having to deal with hypertension keeping in mind that I had no medication left so I remained humble through his rant and managed to asked him for a script which he very quickly wrote before telling me to go pay for it myself in a condescending tone. The script was for a month and I collected it immediately at Rivets pharmacy in Wynberg.

The very same day I went back to Claremont Clincic and told them what had happened and what the doctor had said and they were concerned about the medication. I told them that I have enough for a month and thereafter I will probably have to get another private script. They booked an appointment for me to come in on the 8th September 2025. Once again I was fine and my blood pressure was ok, I was on my medication so I was feeling better again. My next appointment was booked for the 6th October 2025 and everything went well.

Knowing that MMH needs me to prove where I live in order to give me medical assistance, I then went to Dischem for my 1st sonar on the 11th November 2025. It was confirmed that myself and baby are doing ok and that there are no known or visible problems.

I was back at Claremont Clinic on the 18th of November 2025. A different nurse then assisted me, she mentioned that she helps out there and that she is from an agency therefore did not know what to do as they still dont stock the medication I need and she does not know how to help me. She asked for advice from her peers and returned to the consultation saying that I shouldn't be there. Apparently they wanted to know why I am there as I should be at MMH. I explained the situation and that the doctor at MMH said I should attend there because they cannot help me at MMH due to that they dont have proof of where I live. They couldnt even provide me with a private script this time because there was no doctor on call and non of them know when the doctor was going to be there. Again I left without the medication I need.

I want to mention that I visited my parents in George on the 12th of October 2025 for about 2 weeks. I went to the clinic during the first week there to ask if they could assist me with the medication I need. They had it in overflow, looked at my book after I got my file and gave me 3 packets after I explained what was happening here in Cape Town. I finished those pills on the 14th November 2025 and have been without medication ever since.

I have tried various methods including taking half a disprin when needed, the headaches are getting increasingly worse leading to me taking up to 12 panados a day incl the disprin as I try to control my heartbeat, I am once again suffering from blurry vision and a heavy sensation in my chest. The headaches also cone with extreme nausea and Im finding it difficult to eat and in addition my hands and feet have begun to swell.

My self and my husband have spoken to my landlord about this and the urgency thereof, he has told us that we are citizens of this country and should be helped and that he cannot help as he has a refugee status on his passport. I am not too clued up on immigration law and since we have spoken to him multiple times and even showed him the request on paper he insist that "I dont need those things from him". The last discussion we had with him was 2 days ago on the 25th November 2025.

This morning I woke up extremely sick and tried to get they swelling down in my hands and feet, the panados help to a point but essentially the pain doesnt subside completely. I am due on the 23rd/26th of February but due to this condition I know I might need to be admitted earlier. I am aware that I have to be monitored closely incase my symptoms get out of control. I am currently unemployment and do not have the means to be ubering to Retreat and where ever in Cape Town for medication that I seriously need. I also do not have the finances to go to private doctors at the moment. My husband is currently the only one working so we are living on a single income.

At this point I fear having a heart attack or a stroke as I have to manage my own well-being with over the counter meds and natural remedies that dont always seem to have an effect. This is giving me extreme stress and anxiety and everyone says its dangerous yet nobody know what to do, nobody can help me. Everyone responds with "sorry, theres nothing we can do" it seems my only option is to wait until theres an emergency or worse. Its clear that I have nowhere to go, no one is willing or able to help me because I cannot force my landlord to give me what I need. I am at wits end.

This morning I phoned the Department of Health and spoke to a guy named Ruchian Ref no for the call: 25112700050. He provided me with your details. He said that you are the facilities manager and you are the best person to assist me with this matter.

Jessica, this email is lengthy but not nearly as long as my struggle to get the help I need. This is my 4th pregnancy but my first risky one so it's all new to me aswell but whats disappointing is the lack of help and support during this time, the way I was and am getting treated at a very vulnerable time. It's left nothing but a bad aura causing me to feel even more worried for when I need to give birth. MMH has turned me away twice now. I have given bith at Milnerton Medi Clinic, Discovery Hospital in Johannesburg and George Hospital but I have never experienced this sort of treatment. Im actually scared of coming there and unfortunately my next appointment is tomorrow at 7am.

Please tell me what to do, where to go, how to deal with this in the best way possible. If you cant help me because you not sure where I live, please confirm that in writing so that I am able to get the help I need elsewhere. This is literally my last try to get help at MMH and time is not on my side. I've been struggling to get assistance, medication any consistent help. To my knowledge there is nothing more I can do and I am starting to become desperate and concerned about where I am going to deliver and how my health is at risk every single day without the medication which I need to be on.

I'd appreciate any help you are able to give me concerning this matter.

Regards Cindy Christians