Maternity ward cleaner caught with human placentas in Mpumalanga to remain in custody

Mapaballo Borotho

A Mpumalanga hospital cleaner has been arrested after being found with human placentas in Lydenburg.
She remains in custody while police investigate and her case has been postponed to 25 September 2025 for a bail hearing.
Authorities are considering additional charges pending forensic analysis of the confiscated tissues.

A 39-year-old woman who works in a Mpumalanga hospital will remain behind bars after she was found with human placentas in Lydenburg on Wednesday.

Rose Mnisi appeared before the court on Thursday afternoon, and her case was postponed to Thursday, 25 September 2025 for a bail application and to allow the state to investigate further.

She was arrested after police received a tip-off about a suspect carrying a suspicious plastic bag in the area.

“Upon being approached by police, the woman was caught with human tissues. The woman confirmed that she is a cleaner in the maternity ward,” said Mpumalanga police spokesperson Donald Mdhluli.

The suspect was charged, and the contents of the bag were confiscated for forensic analysis.

She is facing a charge of illegal possession of human tissues, and police cannot rule out the possibility of additional charges as the investigation continues.