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In June 2021, a South African woman named Gosiame Thamara Sithole claimed she gave birth to ten babies at once, quickly making headlines worldwide. The story was first published by Pretoria News, which said she delivered at Steve Biko Academic Hospital.
The alleged “Tembisa 10” were said to have shocked even doctors — initially, the couple expected eight babies. The story spread fast and received attention from major outlets like the BBC.
But suspicion grew as no hospital records or official confirmations could support the claim.
The Truth Unfolds: An investigation revealed that no hospitals — public or private — had any record of such a birth. Authorities confirmed that Sithole was never pregnant. Despite this, Pretoria News and its editor Piet Rampedi defended the story, claiming it was not fake news.
Rampedi, a friend of Sithole’s, later admitted the story lacked proper verification, “Could I have handled the story much better? Definitely,” he said, adding that he never investigated the claims properly.
The motive behind the hoax remains unclear, though donations and media attention may have played a role.
