Forced sterilisation of South African women exposed

An official inquiry has found that dozens of HIV-positive women in South Africa have been sterilised without their consent or were pressured to agree just before giving birth.

The revelation was brought forward by the Commission for Gender Equality after a five-year investigation into 48 cases which were highlighted by civil rights groups.

The commission said that state hospitals had violated the dignity of the women and “forced sterilisation subjects women to inhumane conditions and torture”. 

It found that doctors in some state hospitals had sterilised mothers about to have Caesareans, telling them that women with HIV should not have children and that they risked death if they had another baby.

“In some instances complainants were given the forms while they were in extreme labour pain and were told that they would not receive medical assistance until they had signed the forms," the report said.

Commission chair Tamara Mathebula said it was “not clear how widespread this problem is in South Africa”. 

Many patient files have “disappeared” from hospitals, making it difficult to conclude the investigation, according to the commission. 

Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize is reported to have requested an urgent meeting with Ms Mathebula to discuss the report. 

South Africa has the highest number of people afflicted with HIV of any country, with an estimated 25.03% of all deaths resulting from AIDS. 

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