A South African hospital worker arrested with human placentas in Mpumalanga

A South African hospital cleaner was arrested after being found in possession of a bag of human placements in the eastern province of Mpumalanga, police said.

Rose Mnisi was looking for potential buyers for tissues of the human body when she was collected by security agents after a warning.

“After being approached by the police, the woman was taken with human fabrics. The woman confirmed that she was cleaner in maternity,” the police said in a statement.

Thursday, the 39 -year -old woman appeared in court, facing charges of illegal possession of human tissues. The parts of the body were seized and sent for the medical-legal analysis. She has not yet answered the accusations.

Police said the suspect “hitchhiked” in the Nelsprit region when she was arrested by police officers who were routing patrols in the city of Lydenburg, also known as Mashishing.

She wore an unknown number of human placentas in a plastic bag when she was collected, police said.

The woman was “charged accordingly,” said the police, adding that they could not exclude the possibility of additional expenses as the investigation continues.

She is expected in court next month for a request for release on bail.

The police have not said what the placentas would be used to be used, but some believe that eating body tissue can stimulate the production of breast milk and even prevent postnatal depression, although there is no scientific evidence.

In South Africa, certain murders and mutilations have been linked to the use of human body parts in traditional rituals.

Earlier this month, a traditional Mozambican healer appeared before the court after being found in possession of human body parts in the city of Tshwane.

The investigators linked the body parts to the brutal murder of a young woman who was killed in 2023 and her parts of the body removed.