EIGHTEEN years ago, Raymond Jacobs made the decision to have a vasectomy as he could not afford to have any more children. But almost two decades later, he now has the responsibility of raising another baby, and lays the blame for his predicament at the door of the provincial department of health.

Jacobs, a taxi driver, says he plans to sue the state after he became the father of a baby girl, who was born on 13 January.

This is Jacobs’ 11th child.

“While I am over the moon to have received such a beautiful little girl, I am now faced with the difficult task of providing financially for an unplanned baby, which costs a fortune to raise,” the 45-year-old says.

“I put my trust in the government facility to ensure that I don’t have to raise another child. Someone has to take responsibility for this, and I don’t think that this happened through any fault of mine.”

Jacobs says he had a vasectomy in 1994 at the Heideveld Community Health Centre.

The surgical procedure involves the cutting, tying or interruptions of the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles so that the semen no longer contains sperm and conception cannot occur. The testicles continue to produce sperm, but they die and are absorbed by the body.

“I never thought I would be in this situation again. My children are all grown and I just cannot afford the financial burden of raising a baby. I’m not a young man anymore. Both my baby, its mother and me are in a difficult situation because of a fault of the department.”

Jacobs is demanding financial compensation from the department to raise his child, as he “would not have been in this situation if they had done their job”.

“They can’t just clap their hands and make this disappear. I am now struggling to support a baby I didn’t even think of having. Bringing a child into the world is supposed to be a blessing, not a stressful debacle. Who should be taking responsibility for this?”

The lawsuit isn’t to enrich himself, he insists.

“It’s to make sure that this baby has the best life she could. I can’t pay for a mistake on the department’s side. I’m not making any outrageous financial demands they just need to make sure that they give me enough to provide her with everything she needs.”

Faiza Steyn, spokesperson for the provincial health department, confirms Jacobs’ vasectomy was performed 18 years ago.

“His sperm count post vasectomy showed azoo-spermic semen. Mr Jacobs called the facility manager and was advised to have the blood test done. He never came to see the facility manager after we received the complaint the last time,” she says.

“My opinion, he needs to pay for the blood test. Vasectomies, like female sterilizations, are not 100% safe. Clients are informed of this during the counselling session.”

But Jacobs argues that he did speak to the facility manager, and was only offered a free sperm count evaluation.

“I asked for a blood test to confirm paternity but I was told on no uncertain terms that the facility would not be able to do that for me. All they offered me was another vasectomy. Look what happened after the last one I had,” he says as he cuddles his baby, kitted out in pink from head to toe.

“I will take this matter to court because it seems that is the only way to make them see how determined I am. There is no two ways about it I want action and for those responsible to be held accountable.”