Frieda Ramafemo, a JMPD officer, recently became a hero for helping deliver a healthy baby boy on the M1 in the back of an Uber.
While on her way home after work, JMPD officer Frieda Ramafemo was flagged down on the M1 by a panicked Uber driver. She pulled over to see what was the matter and found a woman in need of assistance. The woman was in labour and about to give birth.
The mother-to-be had started going into labour and called an Uber to get to the hospital. Her contractions started to increase and the Uber feared that she would give birth before they reached the hospital. The officer immediately called for an ambulance but they were all out on other calls.
Officer Frieda considered providing a police escort to the hospital but she was worried the woman wouldn’t make it there. She got down and started to help the woman give birth. Being a mother and grandmother, she knew what it entailed but had never actually helped someone give birth.
Together with the Uber driver, the pair helped calm the woman down and 30 minutes later, they held a healthy baby boy in their hands.
“I didn’t know whether I was going to save the baby, but I had to assist. If I had not stopped, I don’t know what would have happened.”
Shortly after the birth, an ambulance, heading towards another emergency call, drove past. Officer Frieda stopped them and the paramedics were able to cut the umbilical cord and check that both mother and child were ok.
“I’m happy that the baby was saved by the love of God. The ambulance came just in time. It was a miracle.”
The mother and child were taken to Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital and were discharged the following day.
In a statement, Joburg MMC for public safety Michael Sun thanked Frieda’s efforts, while Mayor Herman Mashaba tweeted his pride in the JMPD officer.
“This is a movie moment in reality. We are so proud of inspector Ramafemo for her bravery and humanity in going beyond the call of duty. We wish the mother and baby Zipho good health and we will definitely be visiting them soon,” – Michael Sun
“This is a great story to come across this afternoon. Now, this is what we call service with pride.” – Herman Mashaba, Joburg Mayor
Frieda says that the work she does is all for the community. We are happy to say that the community is incredibly grateful for officers like Frieda!
“As a JMPD officer, the uniform that you are wearing is not yours, it belongs to the community.”
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