When Gosiame Thamara Sithole claimed she had given birth to ten babies simultaneously, her story rapidly gained global attention.
Initially reported by Pretoria News in June 2021, the tale of the 37-year-old mother supposedly delivering her decuplets at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in South Africa captivated audiences.
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| Shutterstock / Generic image |
Sithole and her partner, Teboho, who live in a working-class township near Johannesburg, were reportedly shocked to learn they were expecting eight babies, only to discover after the delivery that they had welcomed ten.
The story garnered coverage from major outlets, including the BBC, and Pretoria News even referred to the newborns as the “Tembisa 10.” At first, the narrative appeared credible, bolstered by numerous details, and there was no indication that it might be fabricated.
Sithole had spoken with Pretoria News before the birth, expressing her astonishment and the challenges of her pregnancy: “I am shocked by my pregnancy. It was tough at the beginning. I was sick... I just pray for God to help me deliver all my children in a healthy condition.”
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 skepticism grew, authorities launched an investigation, particularly since the story had attracted significant media attention and donations for the couple. This inquiry revealed that no hospital—public or private—had any record of such a birth, and officials stated that Sithole had not been pregnant at all.
“It has now been established by medical practitioners that Ms. Sithole did not give birth to any babies in recent times,” announced the Gauteng Provincial Government. “It has also been established that she was not pregnant in recent times.”
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| Wikipedia Commons / NabaDwA |
This revelation led to questions about why someone would fabricate such an extraordinary claim. Authorities expressed confusion over the motive, particularly as Piet Rampedi, the journalist who originally reported the story, maintained its accuracy despite the growing backlash.
“Instead of being a cause for celebration, it has resulted in an orchestrated campaign to discredit the story, the mother of the decuplets, and our publication,” Independent Media asserted, standing by their reporting.
Pretoria News editor Piet Rampedi has apologised to his colleagues for the damage his story on SA’s so-called “Thembisa 10” babies did to Independent Media’s reputation. https://t.co/nxfM16ifPt
— Times LIVE (@TimesLIVE) June 22, 2021
As legal threats emerged against Rampedi, who was also a close friend of Sithole, he admitted that his story may have contained errors. He claimed to have seen Sithole with a prominent baby bump and stated he learned about the ten babies through a text message from her.
“Could I have handled the story much better? Definitely! Especially the verification process,” he reflected. “I never treated the decuplets story as an investigation at all.”
The motive behind Sithole's alleged deception remains unclear, though she has reportedly been offered assistance in the aftermath of this strange saga.
The story continues to be shrouded in mystery.
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