Dead woman gives birth on eve of funeral

A rural South African community is stunned after a dead woman gave birth to a lifeless child on the eve of her funeral.

Nomveliso Nomasonto Mdoyi, 33, was found with a stillborn infant between her legs by funeral parlor staff 10 days after she lost her breath and died, Times Live reported.

The discovery was made as Mdoyi’s body was being transferred to a coffin.

“When we took the body from the mortuary tray to her coffin we discovered that there was a newly born baby between her legs,” Lindokuhle Funeral owner Fundile Makalana told Dispatch Live.

Community members suspected witchcraft and even suggested burning the woman and her child, according to reports.

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But doctors insist that it’s possible the child was born naturally to Mdoyi who was nine months pregnant at the time of her death.

Nonetheless, Mdoyi’s mother, Mandzala Mdoyi, 76, is reeling from shock and sadness.

“First, I was devastated by the untimely death of my daughter and now I got the shock of my life to learn that she has given birth while she had been dead for 10 days. What is that? God please come and intervene,” she told Times Live.

Makalana was equally surprised. “I have been in the business for more than 20 years and I have never heard of a dead woman giving birth,” he said.

Family spokesman Mbikelwa Mpithi said they would consult physicians as well as sangomas — South African healers — in an effort to understand the bizarre phenomenon.

“We cannot sit down and fold hands as if it is business as normal. We want to know more about this,” said Mpithi.