Did a South African woman give birth to 10 babies? Here’s what we know

The story of a 37-year-old woman who reportedly gave birth to 10 babies, seven boys and three girls, has led to public appeals from the South African government for information about the mother and her children after it failed to find medical records at hospitals, both public and private.

News of Gosiame Sithole delivering the 10 babies at a Pretoria hospital may have grabbed headlines all over the world, but also sparked questions over its authenticity.

GAUTENG GOVERNMENT RESPONDS TO PUBLIC ENQUIRY ON THE BIRTH OF DECUPLETS pic.twitter.com/BbE7fatchj

— GautengGov (@GautengProvince) June 9, 2021

Phumla Williams, Director General at Government Communication Information System (GCIS), South Africa, posted on Twitter that authorities could not find any evidence of the births.

Williams then tagged IOL news, a news and information website based in South Africa that originally broke the story, suggesting that the news might be fake

We have spent a better part of today tracing the story of @IOL of a woman having given birth to 10 babies! @IOL can you please help the public where this birth happened!

— phumla williams (@mirriamp) June 8, 2021

The journalist who worked on the story, Piet Rampedi, responded to William’s tweet saying, ”Phumla, our law enforcement agencies can’t find and bring to book a single high profile corrupt/ thieving politician despite what’s public knowledge. Does it mean they don’t exist because @mirriamp can’t see and touch them? Your illogical reasoning and poverty of thought is sad”.

Phumla, our law enforcement agencies can’t find and bring to book a single high profile corrupt/ thieving politician despite what’s public knowledge. Does it mean they don’t exist because @mirriamp can’t see and touch them? Your illogical reasoning and poverty of thought is sad. https://t.co/26lSlmeNeQ

— Mr Putin (@pietrampedi) June 9, 2021

As per the exclusive by IOL, the Gauteng woman gave birth to 10 babies on June 7, breaking the Guinness World Record held by Malian Halima Cissé who gave birth to nine children in Morocco last month.

Exclusive: Mother of 10 babies who broke Guinness World Record appeals for help https://t.co/2SiiDgI4ej

— Mr Putin (@pietrampedi) June 9, 2021

VIDEO 1.
Decuplets mother Gosiame Sithole and her husband, Teboho Tsotetsi on their first reaction when doctors told them about the 10 babies, and the unique pregnancy. #GuinnessWorldRecord #NationalBabyShower @IndyMediaSA @pietrampedi pic.twitter.com/op2By5nMMC

— Pretoria News (@pretorianews) June 9, 2021

“It’s seven boys and three girls. She was seven months and seven days pregnant. I am happy. I am emotional. I can’t talk much. Let’s talk again in the morning please,” Teboho Tsotetsi, the woman’s husband was quoted as saying by the news agency.

Rampedi’s name also started trending on social media with many accusing him of fabricating the story. While Rampedi is yet to respond to the public claims, several others took to Twitter, sharing pictures and video of the journalist with the pregnant woman’s family.

Take a look here:

@pietrampedi Let me know if you need backup 😂 pic.twitter.com/FrMwm6sGX9

— Mpho Tsedu (@MphoTsedu) June 9, 2021

Lastly, Piet Rampedi understands the importance of African Traditions and customs. If it was white journalists or the black Thuma Mina minions, they would’ve exposed that family and the new born babies. Piet knows it’s not about just breaking the story, but respecting people.

— Modibe Modiba (@mmodiba10) June 9, 2021

Phumla Williams: Where are the 10 babies??

Piet Rampedi: pic.twitter.com/Vyy2CqmW8v

— Et tu, Mbopha kaSithayi? (@Khuze_Elikhulu) June 8, 2021

Tomorrow @pietrampedi is dropping the headlines….People been saying it’s fake, some been running around the hospitals 😂😂😂🏃

Danko Piet #NationalBabyShower pic.twitter.com/KzGDDE96HG

— KE SHARP (@danielmarven) June 8, 2021

[THREAD] What some media houses and some journalists are doing to Piet Rampedi amounts to a borderline malicious audit using the wrong sources, of which Rampedi never claimed to have consulted for his story. There are two emerging issues, a media crisis& government paralysis.

— Lukhona Mnguni (@LukhonaMnguni) June 9, 2021