PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 03: Former Midwife Yolande Fouchee-Maritz testifies during a cross examination at Pretoria High Court on February 03, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. Yolande Fouchee-Maritz faces 14 charges including one of culpable homicide and is accused of causing infants to either die or be born disabled while she oversaw delivering them. (Photo by Gallo Images/Beeld/Deaan Vivier)
The Pretoria midwife Yolande Maritz Fouchee, who was accused of causing multiple deaths and disabilities of babies, was finally found guilty on Wednesday and will remain behind bars until her sentence is handed down.
Maritz Fouchee was accused of administering medication to pregnant women that caused birth complications.
Maritz Fouchee found guilty
The delicensed midwife maintained her innocence until the end, but was found guilty of 14 charges, including assault and culpable homicide, after claims that she did not pay attention to the risk factors of several of her clients at her You&Me birth clinic in Pretoria East.
Carien Möller, one of the mothers who testified against Maritz Fouchee, said she was thankful and relieved about the outcome.
Mother speaks out
“This won’t bring any babies back or correct the damage that has been done. Satan thought he could steal from us, but God has the final say, and the victory is His,” she wrote in an emotional Facebook post.
“Yolande Maritz, you are forgiven if you were found guilty or not. You don’t deserve it, but I also don’t deserve the Lord’s love and salvation. But He gives it to us freely. What you definitely don’t deserve is a place in my heart to make it hard, or black with bitterness because I can’t forgive you. Because I’d like to live my life with a clean heart and a joyful spirit. I know having to go through this was part of my journey. My daughters and I are part of it.”
Möller thanked everyone who fought with her and supported her.
“Thank you for your trust in me. Thank you to each woman who trusted me and walked away from that birthing centre,” she added.
Criminal law expert Cornelia van Graan said the conviction in this case is commendable.
“The manner and effectiveness of this prosecution should set a precedent and serve as a deterrent to any persons committing similar crimes,” she said.
