The supposed birth of the “Tembisa 10” at Steve Biko Academic Hospital in South Africa shocked the world, as the couple, Sithole and her partner Teboho, had only expected eight babies. However, as authorities investigated deeper, the truth behind this extraordinary claim took a surprising turn.
The Investigation: Was the Decuplets Story Fake?
As global interest in the story grew, authorities launched an official investigation, especially since donations poured in to support the parents. But what they uncovered left the world stunned—no hospital in South Africa had any record of such a birth.
Even more shocking, medical reports confirmed that Sithole had not been pregnant at all.
“It has now been established by medical practitioners that Ms. Sithole did not give birth to any babies in recent times,” stated the Gauteng Provincial Government.
Why Would Someone Fake a Pregnancy?
This revelation raised many questions:
- Was this a scam for donations?
- Did the journalist fail to fact-check properly?
- Was Sithole herself deceived?
Investigative journalist Piet Rampedi, who broke the story and was a close friend of Sithole, later admitted he had made critical reporting mistakes.
“I never treated the decuplets story as an investigation at all. I used no investigative tool or checklist,” he confessed.
Despite authorities dismissing the story as fake news, Independent Media stood by its reporting, claiming an orchestrated campaign was behind the backlash.
The Aftermath: Legal Threats & Media Controversy
Authorities considered legal action against those involved in spreading the false claims, but the mystery remains unsolved. Why did Sithole and her partner fabricate such an elaborate hoax—if they were involved at all?
While multiple births like twins, triplets, and even nonuplets (nine babies) have been documented, the Tembisa 10 case remains one of the biggest media hoaxes in recent history.
Final Thoughts: The Importance of Fact-Checking in Viral News
In an era where fake news spreads rapidly, this case highlights the need for media responsibility and thorough fact-checking. Whether this was a scam, misinformation, or an elaborate misunderstanding, the “Tembisa 10” hoax will go down as one of the most bizarre viral stories of all time.