SOUTH AFRICA. – The Gauteng government has instructed the State Attorney to institute legal action against Piet Rampedi, editor of Pretoria News and the Independent Group after false reports of 10 babies.
Thabo Masebe, spokesperson for the Gauteng provincial government, said the government found no truth in the articles published by Rampedi on the so-called “decuplets”.
False: 10 babies
“Following reports published by the Independent Media group about a Gauteng woman having given birth to decuplets on Monday, 7 June 2021, the Gauteng Provincial Government conducted a thorough check with all hospitals in the province to establish the veracity or otherwise of reports.
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“None of the hospitals in the province, public and private, had any records of such births at their facilities. On 17 June 2021, the Pretoria News published a report based on a statement made by the Independent Media alleging that Gosiame Sithole gave birth to decuplets at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital, and that government was trying to cover up medical negligence.
Unsubstantiated allegations
“These allegations are false, unsubstantiated and only serve to tarnish the good reputation of Steve Biko Academic Hospital and the Gauteng Provincial Government. Social workers attached to the Gauteng Department of Social Development made contact with Ms Sithole to establish her whereabouts to determine how the department could provide any assistance and care for her and her children.”
Masebe said social workers became concerned with Ms Sithole’s state of health and arranged for her admission at Tembisa Hospital for observation.
Mental observation
“Ms Sithole was admitted to Tembisa hospital on 18 June 2021, and various medical tests were conducted on her to determine her state of health. Initially, she was meant to be kept at the hospital for 72 hours, which lapsed on Tuesday, 22 June 2021. Upon completing their preliminary examination on Monday, 21 June 2021, her doctors recommended that she be kept at the hospital for a further 7 days for further observation, in accordance with the Mental Healthcare Act. It has now been established by medical practitioners that Ms Sithole did not give birth to any babies in recent times.”
It has also been established that she was not pregnant in recent times.
“The Gauteng Provincial Government will continue to give medical, psychological and social support to Ms Sithole and provide any counselling she might require. The Gauteng Provincial Government is deeply concerned by the conduct of the Independent Media, particularly the Editor of the Pretoria News, Mr Piet Rampedi. The Provincial government has instructed the State Attorney to institute legal action against Mr Rampedi and the Independent Group.”
