Woman who said she gave birth to 10 babies at once was lying, authorities claim

In June 2021, Gosiame Thamara Sithole, a 37-year-old from South Africa, claimed she gave birth to ten babies, dubbed the “Tembisa 10” by Pretoria News. The story went viral, with outlets like the BBC reporting it. Sithole and her partner Teboho allegedly expected eight babies but were shocked by decuplets. She told Pretoria News she was struggling but hopeful.

Suspicion grew as the tale spread and donations poured in. Authorities investigated and found no record of the birth in any hospital. The Gauteng government confirmed Sithole hadn’t been pregnant or given birth recently. Journalist Piet Rampedi, who broke the story, insisted it was true, citing her visible bump and a text from her. Later, he admitted to flaws in his reporting, saying he didn’t verify it properly, though he still believed she was pregnant.

Why Sithole lied remains unclear. The story, once celebrated, is now mired in mystery and controversy.