Nurse Caught With Human Placentas To Sell To Healers

Story By: Alex Cope, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Newsflash

A nurse in South African has been arrested after he was reportedly found with three human placentas in his car which he was going to sell on to traditional healers.

Police sources report the unnamed nurse, 36, was stopped near Rosslyn in the northern South African province of Gauteng because he was driving his Peugeot with its bonnet not closed properly.

Police Captain Mavele Masondo said that officers searched the car and found three human placentas, 200 latex surgical gloves, and 70 surgical masks.

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Preliminary investigations reportedly show the nurse had stolen the items from the George Mukhari Academic Hospital where he works on the paediatric ward.

The nurse was arrested and charged with possession of human tissue and possession of stolen property.

Police spokesperson Constable Bontle Rahatji said that when asked what he was doing with the placentas he said he was going to sell them to ‘sangomas’ (traditional South African healers) for 3,000 ZAR (146 GBP).

Alice Nche, a member of the African National Healers Association denounced the use of human body parts in rituals, saying: “We know people claim that using certain parts like the placenta bring luck, but its not true. This is why we make sure we teach and stress, especially to the new entrants, to stay away from such practices.”

A hospital spokesperson said they believe the nurse had not been working alone and they are working with the police to identify any accomplices.

It is unclear if a trial date has been set.

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