There is something inherently captivating about larger-than-life birth stories. Our curiosity is naturally piqued at the thought of a mother bringing multiple babies into the world all at once.

This is exactly the kind of spectacle that Gosiame Thamara Sithole’s story became, gaining worldwide notoriety in the summer of 2021.

However, as authorities began to probe into this miraculous tale, it became evident that not all was as it seemed. Unveiling the truth brought about a swirl of controversy that continues even today…

The buzz started in June 2021 when Pretoria News, a renowned publication, delivered startling news that 37-year-old Gosiame Thamara Sithole had given birth to ten babies at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in South Africa.

Journalist Piet Rampedi, who first chronicled Gosiame’s account, reported the spectacular birth on June 7. With this claimed birth of ten children, Gosiame was said to have set a new Guinness World Record. Both she and her partner Teboho, hailing from the Gauteng province near Johannesburg, were reportedly overcome with surprise after they were expecting only eight babies based on earlier scans.

This phenomenal story of Gosiame generating decuplets naturally caught international attention, covered widely by major news agencies across the globe. Who wouldn’t be enchanted by such an extraordinary event?

The Pretoria News article was convincing, backed by a myriad of details. It described Gosiame’s natural pregnancy resulting in seven boys and three girls by C-section, completely unassisted by fertility interventions.

“I am shocked by my pregnancy. It was tough at the beginning. I was sick. It was hard for me. It’s still tough but I am used to it now. 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,” Sithole told Pretoria News in June 2021.

It was an enthralling narrative that seemed too fantastic to be false and naturally attracted worldwide attention. Generous donations to aid the couple amounted to an astonishing $70,000, according to BBC reports.

Yet, the story was ultimately unveiled as fiction.

Upon scrutiny, no evidence of the decuplets was found.

When the ‘Tembisa 10’ story hit, the provincial government of Gauteng launched an inquiry, spurred by doubts due to the lack of naming the hospital where the incredible births reportedly occurred.

By June 25, the Gauteng Provincial Government put forth a statement asserting they conducted a thorough investigation across all hospitals within the province.

The inquiry revealed that no records indicated such births occurred in any provincial hospitals, either public or private. More worrisome, the investigation gathered deeply troubling details.

In reality, 37-year-old Sithole had not been pregnant. After social services located her, subsequent hospital tests confirmed Sithole hadn’t undergone a recent pregnancy.

Medical practitioners established, “Ms. Sithole did not give birth to any babies in recent times.”

This revelation leaves the world asking why such a fabrication would be spun. Who stood to gain from this story?

While the authorities did not delve into the motivations behind this elaborate invention, they extended medical, psychological, and social support to Sithole, ensuring she received whatever help she required.

The ordeal might have ended there if not for a new twist in the tale.

Post-investigation, the journalist who initially propagated the incredible birth story accused health authorities of concealing the truth.

Independent Media fervently defended their piece, dismissing allegations of fake news and accusing the government of a cover-up.

Provoked by these claims, the authorities considered legal measures against the publication and journalist behind the story, emphasizing the falsehoods presented tarnished their reputations.

Piet Rampedi eventually withdrew his report, admitting to blunders in his reporting and the story’s subsequent unwarranted notoriety.

Rampedi extended an apology via email to his colleagues, acknowledging that while trusting Gosiame Sithole’s previous pregnancy claims, the lack of diligent verification was a mistake.

Piet reportedly considered Gosiame a friend after meeting in church circles in December 2020. By mid-2021, he was conducting interviews with the couple, who claimed they were expecting eight children. Pictures showing Sithole’s unusually large abdomen led him to believe she was near delivery.

Though trusting in Sithole’s honesty, her and her husband’s announcement of ten babies being born came via text messages without independent validation from any hospital records.

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Piet acknowledged, “They had no reason to lie to me about the pregnancy. To me, it was a story of joy. Thus, I never requested document-based proof of the pregnancy, like medical scans or cards, as one normally would with serious investigative journalism.”

In this saga, not a single party emerged victorious.

This episode starkly reminds us how cautiously we should treat such captivating narratives. Believing everything at face value when sensationalism strikes is risky.

Our heartfelt wish now is that Ms. Sithole finds the assistance necessary to move forward positively.