‘Three Years Later’: Where is Gosiame Sithole, the Woman Who ‘Gave Birth’ to 10 Babies Now?
Gosiame Sithole captured global attention in 2021 when she reportedly gave birth to ten babies in Pretoria, Johannesburg. Three years later, the mystery surrounding her claim remains a topic of intrigue, as she has largely faded from the public eye.
Initial Reports and Controversy
In June 2021, news broke that Gosiame Sithole had given birth to decuplets—seven boys and three girls. Her husband, Teboho Tsotetsi, confirmed the birth to Pretoria News, expressing his joy and emotion.
According to the initial reports, she delivered five babies naturally and the other five via caesarean section. The story gained further traction when Guinness World Records announced an investigation into the claim, which would have set a new world record.
Government Response and Allegations of Fraud
Despite the sensational headlines, the Gauteng provincial government quickly disputed the story, stating that no hospital in the province had records of such a birth. A series of medical tests later revealed that Gosiame Sithole had not been pregnant. This led to accusations of fake news, with the provincial government threatening legal action against IOL, the media outlet that first published the article.
IOL, however, stood by their story, asserting that Sithole had delivered the children at Steve Biko Academic Hospital and accusing the provincial government of a cover-up.
Sithole’s Whereabouts and Legal Battles
Since the dramatic events of 2021, Gosiame Sithole has kept a low profile. In 2022, a 57-page report was released, which addressed the controversy. The report concluded that Sithole’s confinement for mental health observation was justified, countering claims that she was wrongfully held. It also refuted allegations that the provincial government had coerced her husband into reporting her as missing to facilitate her arrest.
Despite these findings, Sithole maintained that she had given birth to ten babies but had no access to them. She received support from Piet Rampedi, editor of Pretoria News, and Iqbal Survé, Executive Chairman of Independent Media.
Current Status and Guinness World Records
As of now, Gosiame Sithole has not provided definitive proof of the decuplets’ existence, leaving the public skeptical. Halima Cisse, who gave birth to nine babies in Morocco, retains her record as the only person to have given birth to more than eight children in a single birth.
Nadya Suleman from the US, who gave birth to eight children in 2009, still holds the Guinness World Record for the most children delivered in a single birth to survive.
The absence of concrete evidence or follow-up from Sithole or her supporters has kept the story in a state of unresolved speculation, continuing to spark curiosity and debate among South Africans and the global community.
