South Africa – Dr Dusi, Dr Google, stigma and all the other reasons pregnant women are risking their lives

In today’s newsletter, Tanya Pampalone and Mia Malan explain why South Africa still has unsafe abortions.

By Bhekisisa Team
May 5, 2025

There are piles of R100 notes, a hand holding a tinted vial, a small plastic bag of brown herbs and a bloody sanitary pad with a message in green type: “Thank you Dr Dusi. Now I’m Free.” There is also a phone number where, presumably, you’ll find someone at the other end of the line eager to help.

If Dr Dusi doesn’t pick up, or, more likely, has changed his number, don’t worry. There are plenty of others to call. Dozens of them.

Continued: https://bhekisisa.org/health-news-south-africa/2025-05-05-dr-dusi-dr-google-stigma-and-all-the-other-reasons-pregnant-women-are-risking-their-lives/

South Africa – Millions of rand go down the drain as state resources used for illegal abortion industry

Dec 10, 2023
Ntando Makhubu

AS South Africa sits on the edge of disaster resulting from the effects of unsafe abortions, communities and health experts have said what was devastating was the reality that not only were women and young girls endangering their lives by going the illegal route, but the real tragedy was the involvement of state officials, who supplied those who performed terminations and made millions from the illegal procedures.

This despite the country having put into place the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act in 1996, which allows women the right to safe abortions in hospitals and doctors’ rooms, up to 20 weeks of pregnancy to ensure safety and in keeping with the World Health Organisation’s prescripts.

Continued: https://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/news/millions-of-rand-go-down-the-drain-as-state-resources-used-for-illegal-abortion-industry-0c8b9d44-bf19-4596-8e43-14459a7b562b

NPO launches campaign to combat illegal abortions

Seen by the numerous adverts placed on bins, poles and walls, it seems to suggest that the number of unsafe abortion providers is ever increasing, says Mary Stopes SA

March 8, 2021
Boksburg Advertiser

Marie Stopes South Africa (MSSA) has launched their #TearThemDown campaign, a fight against all illegal abortion service providers in the country.

MSSA has
reiterated its mission to provide safe pregnancy options for women in South
Africa.

According to
Whitney Chinogwenya, marketing and brand manager at MSSA, the unsafe practice
of illegal abortion continues to be a scourge that adds to the public health
crisis.

Continued: https://boksburgadvertiser.co.za/406533/npo-launches-campaign-to-combat-illegal-abortions/

International Safe Abortion Day: The real cost of illegal abortions

International Safe Abortion Day: The real cost of illegal abortions
This International Safe Abortion Day, Marie Stopes South Africa is calling for safe abortion services and care to be made available to every woman who wants it worldwide.

September 27, 2019

Across the globe, there are still 214 million women who currently have no reliable way of preventing an unintended pregnancy that could make them poorer, push their dreams beyond their reach forever, or threaten their health and life.

We’ve seen the transformational potential of family planning, and the positive changes that can happen in a woman’s life when she has control over her body and future. Contraception and safe abortion supports women to delay first pregnancy, space their pregnancies and avoid unsafe abortion, greatly reducing their risk of dying in pregnancy or childbirth.

Continued: https://www.all4women.co.za/1852843/health/womens-health/international-safe-abortion-day-the-real-cost-of-illegal-abortions

27.09.2019

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International Safe Abortion Day

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South Africa – Campaign gives women the power of choice on abortions

Campaign gives women the power of choice on abortions

News / 8 March 2019
Staff Writer

Cape Town – Marie Stopes South Africa and Blue Ribbon have embarked on a public campaign called My Body, My Choice to empower women with access to accurate information and resources for safe abortions.

This is to empower them to make an informed choice about their sexual and reproductive health.

Continued: https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/campaign-gives-women-the-power-of-choice-on-abortions-19735434

South Africa – #MyBodyMyChoice: The Right To Safe Abortion Is Protected By Law

#MyBodyMyChoice: The Right To Safe Abortion Is Protected By Law

Shaazia Ebrahim
On Oct 1, 2018

Cries of “my body, my choice”, “my vagina my choice” and “phansi unsafe abortions” rang in the air in the name of the campaign #MyBodyMyChoice. A group of people marched from Theatre Park in Braamfontein to Newtown Park in the name of access to quality reproductive healthcare services on Friday. There, an event featuring speeches from experts in the field, panel discussions, personal stories of women, and a musical performance was staged. Friday September 28 also marked International Safe Abortion Day.

The aim of the digital campaign #MyBodyMyChoice is to break the silence around abortion by connecting key audiences and create conversations around sexual and reproductive health and rights and abortion. It also aimed to emphasise that abortion is legal in South Africa and inform women about their rights and how to realise them.

Continued: http://www.thedailyvox.co.za/mybodymychoice-the-right-to-safe-abortion-is-protected-by-law-shaazia-ebrahim/

South Africa – How the ACDP peddled unproven fact in its bid to tighten SA’s abortion laws

How the ACDP peddled unproven fact in its bid to tighten SA's abortion laws

05 Jun 2018
Africa Check, Gopolang Makou

The party cannot substantiate claims it made before Parliament in March, finds Africa Check.

In 2017, the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) proposed a Bill that proposed restricting access to safe abortions in the country by, for instance, outlawing abortions after 13 weeks based on socioeconomic grounds and procedures at 20 weeks in cases where, for instance, fetuses had severe deformities.

The legislation also would have added requirements, such as mandatory counselling and sonagram viewing, that ACDP MP Cheryllyn Dudley told Bhekisisa would promote informed consent. But some doctors alleged the new counselling criteria was nothing more than an attempt to manipulate women.

Continued: http://bhekisisa.org/article/2018-06-05-00-how-the-acdp-peddled-unproven-facts-in-its-bid-to-tighten-sas-abortion-laws

South Africa: US Gag Rule to cause more abortion-related deaths

Health-e News: US Gag Rule to cause more abortion-related deaths

HEALTH-E NEWS South Africa, 20 Mar 2017

The US Gag Rule, reintroduced in January, is likely to mean that many more women in the most vulnerable parts of the world will continue to die from unsafe abortions. HEALTH-E’s Amy Green reports.

“I remember the first time I saw a woman die from an unsafe abortion,” recalls Zani Prinsloo, a midwife with international humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders (MSF) where she manages maternal health projects in crisis zones around the world.

“I was on assignment and this lady came in, she was ash-grey. At the time, we took the history. She was bleeding and had taken a certain medication to induce abortion,” she said. “But it was too late. Our resources couldn’t save her – she had come to us too late.”

Prinsloo prefers to omit the names of the countries in which she has worked to protect the organisation’s projects and the work that they do there. But she told Health-e News that she has saved mothers in seven countries in Africa and the Middle East over the past four years.

Continued at link: Daily Maverick: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-03-20-health-e-news-us-gag-rule-to-cause-more-abortion-related-deaths/#.WNAJsrqXDMg

South Africa: Illegal abortion posters fill Durban

Photo: supplied People are urged to say ‘no’ illegal abortions.

2016-07-28 06:00
Valene.Govender

As you walk around the streets of Durban it is impossible not to notice street-pole posters advertising “free and cheap” abortions.

Posters advertising “cheap abortion, one day, no pain” are common and with the increase in teenage pregnancy many don’t struggle for business.

Communication and marketing head of Marie Stopes South Africa (MSSA), Andrea Thompson said: “A market for illegal and unsafe abortion providers has been created and flyers advertising 'safe, pain-freer, quick and cheap abortions' litter the streets.

“These illegal abortion providers target disadvantaged, vulnerable women and put their lives at risk.”

Coastal Weekly reporter contacted one of the clinics to find out how it operates and a staff member, who did not want to be identified, said: “We do the job in one day by giving them liquid medication to drink, which will terminate the baby. It makes the job difficult when you are four months pregnant so that's why we charge a higher price.”

Thompson said unsafe terminations are more likely to lead to hemorrhaging, septicaemia, organ damage, tetanus, sterility, and even death and varying methods, including drinking mixtures and inserting objects or instruments into the womb.

“Early warning signs of incomplete and unsafe terminations are fever, shivering, smelly discharge, haemorrhaging, lower extreme abdominal pain, high temperature and anaemia.” MSSA sees the consequences of illegal abortions in their clinics every day and run educational programmes and outreach projects to educate women on their rights to access safe and legal termination of pregnancy.

She advises women seeking a pregnancy termination to look for a brand like Marie Stopes or ask at the Department of Health about approved clinics.

“Look for a landline number and not just a cellphone number and inquire about the practitioner’s after-hours contact details in case of emergency.

“They [pregnant woman] must also get counselling, which will provide them with all the information.

“Patients should not pay until they are satisfied with the service and get a receipt and make sure the facility is at a fixed address and not on a street corner.”

eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson, Thulani Mbatha said: “The municipality is aware of the issue as this has been an ongoing problem for years.

“The safe abortion stickers are removed by the Expanded Public Works Programme staff, but find that a day after removal they are put up again.

“The municipality previously conducted joint operations with Metro Police and the SAPS to arrest bogus doctors conducting illegal abortions.

“Awareness campaigns are conducted to educate the public about the dangers of using bogus doctors. It is very difficult to establish who the culprits are as they employ ‘runners’ who work for them.”

Source: News24, South Africa

28.07.2016

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Marie Stopes South Africa