Cape Town - Little Amkela gave his mother, Nobuntu Mayekiso, and father, Xola Melinjini, the scare of their lives when they suddenly had to pull off on the N1 during peak-hour traffic.
There was no way they were going to make it to the hospital in time on Wednesday morning.
Passing by, Quinton de Swartz, from Kuils River, heard what he thought were screams of terror and decided to pull over and help – phone in hand, ready to call the police.
“It was about 7.30am and as I was walking to the car, Xola pulled me and basically shoved me into his car. I then witnessed the most incredible sight – Nobuntu was in fact giving birth,” De Swartz said.
He said by the time he saw Mayekiso, Amkela’s head and shoulders were already out.
“Out of instinct I held the baby as the mother pushed and when he was out, I placed him on his mother’s chest,” De Swartz said.
Melinjini said he froze out of fear during the incident and did not know what to do until De Swartz stopped.
Afterwards Melinjini took off his jacket and wrapped it around his son, who was resting on his mother’s chest.
“It’s because of him that my son is alive,” Melinjini said.
De Swartz said his wife had called for an ambulance and he was advised not to cut the umbilical cord.
Mayekiso could not thank De Swartz enough on Thursday for helping to deliver his baby boy.
“I love my son very much and am grateful for his help,” she said.
Cape Times
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