No evidence South African woman actually gave birth to 10 babies, inquiry finds

A South African woman who claimed to give birth to ten babies was not telling the truth, an official inquiry has found.

Gosiame Thamara Sithole, 37, went viral after claiming to give birth to seven boys and three girls by Caesarean section at a hospital in Pretoria, South Africa.

But no hospitals in Gauteng province have a record of decuplets being born medical tests showing no evidence of a C-section or that Ms Sithole had not even been pregnant recently, it said.

Ms Sithole is now being held under the mental health act for observation “against her will” according to her lawyer.

“The medical evaluation has shown that there was no pregnancy. It also shows that there are no physical scars to indicate a recent C-section,” a source told the local news site Eyewitness News.

However, a statement released by the alleged father Teboho Tsotetsi’s family said ten days later he had still not seen any evidence of his kids.

“He (Tebego) made several attempts to visit his girlfriend, but she has failed to disclose her whereabouts and the condition of her babies,” the statement read.

“The family has resolved and concluded that there are no decuplets born between Tebogo Tsotetsi and Gosiame Sithole, until proven otherwise and wishes to apologize for any inconvenience and embarrassment.”

Their local mayor confirmed the births but a government spokesman later said the politician only had the family’s word and no-one had yet seen the babies.

Donations began flooding in for the “record-breaking” couple and their alleged babies, dubbed the “Thembisa 10”, including 1m rand (£50,000) from one patron.

But the story drew suspicion after Pretoria News failed to disclose the hospital where the babies were born and a series of hospitals in Gauteng came out to deny their involvement.

“I am shocked by my pregnancy. It was tough at the beginning. I was sick. It was hard for me,” Ms Sithole announced to local media earlier this month.

“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.”

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