…as grieving family seeks justice
…and struggles to bury her, care for her infant
Hopolang Mokhopi
A grieving family from Khokhotsaneng in Roma is demanding answers and seeking justice following the death of their 24-year-old daughter, whom they believe was discharged too soon from hospital despite her visibly deteriorating condition.
At the centre of their anguish is not only the loss of a young mother but the painful reality that they now lack the means to bury her.
The late Pulane Masokela, who passed away on 27 May, leaves behind a baby boy who is now less than a month old.
Her family alleges that after undergoing a caesarean section at Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital (QMMH), Pulane was discharged while still seriously ill and unable to care for herself.
Now, instead of celebrating the arrival of a new child into the family, her mother is left mourning her daughter and raising an infant with little means to survive.
Speaking to the Sunday Express, Pulane’s mother, ‘Mateboho Masokela, said the family cannot understand how her daughter was allowed to leave hospital in the condition she was in.
“We want justice for our child,” she said.
“She came back home unable to speak properly, unable to move, and in severe pain. We kept asking ourselves how somebody in that state could be discharged.”
Ms Masokela sits on an old steel bed, with thin mattress, in her single clay house, holding Pulane’s less than a month-old baby boy.
According to her, Pulane had experienced severe health complications during pregnancy.
She alleges those complications began after Pulane was forced by her husband to consume Bolalazonke (kill all), an insecticidal dusting powder commonly used for pest control. The family alleges the substance was given to her in an attempt to terminate the pregnancy.
Ms Masokela said Pulane collapsed at home before she was first admitted to hospital.
“She was having seizures and foaming at the mouth. We rushed her to St Joseph Hospital and later she was transferred to QMMH because of her condition.”
Pulane was admitted to QMMH on 7 May 2026 and underwent a caesarean section the following day, delivering a baby boy.
Her mother said she was later discharged from QMMH on 21 May and transferred back to St Joseph Hospital before eventually returning home.
But according to Ms Masokela, the woman who returned was no longer the daughter they knew.
“She could not walk properly. She struggled to talk. Her jaw remained clenched and she could barely eat,” Ms Masokela recalled.
At home, Pulane reportedly became completely dependent on Ms Masokela for basic care.
The mother said Pulane had to wear diapers and could not even hold her own child without assistance.
One of the moments that remains deeply painful for the family was trying to feed the newborn.
“The baby was breastfeeding but there was a yellow substance coming out. We became scared and stopped because we did not know whether it was safe for him.”
Beyond the medical concerns, the family says Pulane’s death cannot be separated from what they describe as a history of abuse.
Ms Masokela alleged that her daughter had endured domestic violence during her relationship but rarely spoke about it.
“She suffered quietly,” she said.
“She always looked normal when she visited. We never knew what she was going through.”
According to the mother, Pulane had moved in with her partner in June last year and her wellbeing gradually declined.
“She lived a difficult life. Sometimes she would come home and I could see she was not herself, but she never opened up.”
The pain of losing her daughter became even more devastating because Ms Masokela says she was there in Pulane’s final moments.
Her voice breaking repeatedly during the interview, she recalled the last conversation she had with her daughter.
“She asked me to prepare food. She asked me to bring her child because she wanted to feed him.”
Then came a request that now haunts her.
“She told me to name the baby.”
Trying to reassure her, Ms Masokela told her daughter she would recover and choose the name herself.
Moments later, Pulane fell silent.
Today, Ms Masokela says she is left with a child she never expected to raise alone.
She survives through odd jobs — washing laundry and hoeing fields for neighbours.
“Sometimes people do not have money and they pay me with food instead.”
She says the burden has become unbearable.
“I now have a baby to raise and I do not even know what to feed him.”
While Pulane’s life has ended, their struggle has only just begun. As the family battles grief, another painful reality remains unresolved — Pulane’s body is still at the mortuary because they cannot afford to bury her.
Ms Masokela said she believed her funeral policy still covered her daughter and only discovered after the death that Pulane had been removed after turning 18.
“No one explained to me that I needed to register her again as an adult dependent.”
The family says it has approached police and wants investigations into both the circumstances surrounding Pulane’s death and allegations against her husband.
When contacted for comment, police spokesperson, Superintendent Thabo Mohai, said he was not aware of the matter.
“If the matter has been reported, police processes including post-mortem and investigations would be followed. If it has not yet been reported, the family should report through the proper channels,” he said.
QMMH Managing Director, Dr Makhoase Ranyali, when approached for comment, questioned the reporter’s identity and requested verification before responding to the allegations.
“I don’t even know who you are? Send me a copy of your identity. Are you related to them?” Dr Ranyali charged.
Nonetheless, QMMH still failed to respond to the enquiry even after verifying the reporter’s identity. Instead, Dr Ranyali now demanded Ms Masokela’s contact details.