Spectacular births often grab public attention—and none more so than when Gosiame Thamara Sithole, a South African woman, was reported in June 2021 to have given birth to 10 babies, supposedly breaking a world record.
The story, published by Pretoria News and journalist Piet Rampedi, quickly went viral. Gosiame, from a township near Johannesburg, was said to have delivered decuplets at Steve Biko Academic Hospital. Donations poured in, and global media covered the so-called “Tembisa 10.”
But cracks soon appeared. Authorities couldn’t verify the births—no hospital had records, and medical tests later confirmed Sithole hadn’t been pregnant. The Gauteng government called the story a hoax and considered legal action.
Despite denials, Pretoria News and Independent Media stood by the report, accusing officials of a cover-up. Rampedi later admitted to major errors in verifying the story, saying he trusted the couple and never investigated further.
The saga remains a cautionary tale of media responsibility, public gullibility, and viral misinformation.