Ten babies were welcomed into the world by a proud couple in Pretoria last night. The mother, 37-year-old Gosiame Thamara initially expected octuplets as per preliminary scans by her doctor.

“My legs were painful. The doctors did further scans and they found the children were in the wrong tube. That was sorted and I have been okay since then. I can’t wait for my children. We have already given them names”, she said in a quote to BBC news.

Sithole, employed as a retail store manager, gave birth to her decuplets at 27 weeks, adding to her and her husband’s twin 6-year-olds. Five were delivered naturally and the other five by cesarean section. The children are yet to meet their parents having been put in incubation shortly after delivery, confirms a South African source close to the couple. 

“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.”

Gosiame’s husband Teboho Tsotetsi, is beyond elated at the news. He had this to say to Pretoria News after the successful birth:

“It’s seven boys and three girls. I am happy. I am emotional. I can’t talk much”.