When a woman named Gosiame Thamara Sithole declared that she had given birth to ten babies in a single delivery, her story spread like wildfire worldwide.
Given how extraordinary the claim was, authorities launched an investigation. What they discovered stirred up debate and had everyone talking.
The astonishing report first appeared in Pretoria News in June 2021, which stated that the 37-year-old mother had given birth at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in South Africa.
Sithole and her partner, Teboho, who live in a working-class township in Gauteng province near Johannesburg, were originally told they were expecting eight babies. However, they were completely stunned when she gave birth to ten. This astonishing story quickly gained international attention, with major media outlets like the BBC covering it.
The Pretoria News even coined the nickname “Tembisa 10” for the newborns, and with so many details surrounding the case, the story initially appeared credible. At the time, there was nothing to suggest that it might not be true.
Before giving birth, Sithole reportedly spoke with Pretoria News, expressing her disbelief about the pregnancy. According to the newspaper, she said: “I am shocked by my pregnancy. It was tough at the beginning. I was sick. It was hard for me. It’s still tough but I am used to it now. I don’t feel the pain anymore, but it’s still a bit tough. I just pray for God to help me deliver all my children in a healthy condition, and for me and my children to come out alive. I would be pleased about it.”
A story of a South African woman Gosiame Sithole who allegedly gave birth to 10 babies earlier this month is not true. https://t.co/IB9WT3T33Y
— Mpasho News (@MpashoNews) June 24, 2021
However, as suspicions grew, authorities chose to investigate further—especially since the story had made global headlines and the couple had received substantial donations. A detailed inquiry revealed that no hospital, whether public or private, had any records of such a birth.
What’s more, officials stated that Sithole had never been pregnant to begin with.
“It has now been established by medical practitioners that Ms. Sithole did not give birth to any babies in recent times,” the Gauteng Provincial Government confirmed.
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