Former midwife found guilty of baby’s death, crimes against mothers

File: Gavel in a courtroom.

The Pretoria High Court, has convicted a former midwife for several crimes that she committed against pregnant women, and the death of an infant.

Forty eight-year-old, Yolande Maritz Fouchee, from Murrayfield, who is the owner of the You and Me Midwife-led Maternity Care, was found guilty of culpable homicide after the death of a nine-day-old baby, Noah Von Kloeg.

She was also convicted of six counts of assault, fraud, employment of an unqualified person, and five counts of assault.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Spokesperson, Lumka Mahanjana, confirmed that the victims reported Fouchee to the South African Nursing Council in 2020, and she was arrested in June 2024.

Mahanjana says evidence presented in court showed that Fouchee committed the crimes over a period of two years.

“Between 2019 and 2020, Fouchee would administer functions as a midwife for pregnant women. During the pregnancy and birthing process of those women she would overlook their complications. This resulted into the death of a nine-days-old baby. In court, she pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, the NPA presented compelling evidence, and proved her guilt beyond reasonable doubt.”