Updated: ‘She was never pregnant’ — South African province denies birth of 10 babies by woman

BY FAITH FAMAKINWA

The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) in South Africa has dismissed claims that Gosiame Thamara Sithole, a 37-year-old woman, gave birth to 10 babies at once.

Pretoria News had reported that Sithole, from Ekurhuleni metropolitan municipality, had given birth to the decuplets — seven boys and three girls — through a caesarean section.

But in a statement on Wednesday, the Gauteng government said its checks across hospitals within the province showed that the claim was false.

“None of the hospitals in the province, public and private, had any records of such birth at their facilities,” the statement read.

According to the statement, social workers attached to the Gauteng department of social development had reached out to Sithole to provide support for her after the news of her birth broke.

It explained that she was thereafter admitted to the Tembisa hospital in the province for treatment.

The statement said findings carried out during her stay at the hospital, however, showed that “Sithole did not give birth to any babies in recent times.”

It also said that the results of the medical tests carried out showed she was not pregnant recently as claimed.

The provincial government expressed its commitment to provide medical, psychological, and social support for Sithole where necessary.

The government also called out the Independent Media, particularly Pretoria News, over their reports while stating that it had directed the state attorney to institute legal action against Piet Rampedi, editor of the news platform.

“On June 7, the Pretoria News published a report based on a statement made by the Independent Media alleging that Gosiame Sithole gave birth to decuplets at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital and that government was trying to cover medical negligence,” the statement added.

“These allegations are false, unsubstantiated, and only serve to tarnish the good reputation of the Steve Biko Academic Hospital and the Gauteng Provincial Government.

“The Gauteng Provincial Government is deeply concerned by the conduct of the Independent Media, particularly the editor of the Pretoria News, Mr Piet Rampedi.

“The provincial government has instructed the state attorney to institute legal action against Mr Rampedi and the Independent Group.”

Editor’s note: This report has been updated to reflect a statement by the Gauteng provincial government saying that Gosiame Sithole had not given birth recently.