A 29-year-old woman from Limpopo gave birth to conjoined twins at Mankweng Tertiary Hospital on January 28 after being urgently transferred from Maphutha Malatjie Hospital when the condition was detected during labour.
“The twins were successfully delivered and are currently stable, receiving care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,” said Limpopo Department of Health spokesperson Neil Shikwambana.
“Initial assessments indicate that the babies were joined at the abdomen.”
He said specialists are conducting further assessments to better understand the twins’ anatomy and determine the most appropriate course of care. The mother is reported to be in good condition and continues to receive specialist support.
“At present, the twins are clinically stable and progressing well,” the department said.
A multidisciplinary medical team was established to manage the case.
“The team will meet weekly to conduct thorough assessments, plan ongoing care, and prepare for a possible surgical separation when clinically appropriate,” the department said.
Limpopo MEC for Health Dieketseng Mashego and Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba visited Mankweng Hospital on Monday to offer support to hospital management, healthcare workers and the mother.
Dr Nyaweleni Tshifularo, a paediatric surgeon at Mankweng Hospital, told the SABC that stabilising the babies was the immediate priority.
“The first step was to stabilise the babies. So, after the birth of the babies, we went on just to resuscitate and make sure they are alive, they are healthy. And now we had to go through the stages of examining, scanning them to see which part of the body are joined together. We've got that information. And now the medical team are going to sit down and have a discussion.”
Tshifularo explained that the twins are joined at the chest, describing the outcome as a “blessing from God”.
“This is a common part. And most of it, we're not sure really what caused it, but it's related to the separation that didn't happen properly. The cell that was supposed to be one cell in the middle divided into two.”
South Africa has previously managed several rare, conjoined twin cases, including the 1986 separation of Mpho and Mphonyana Mathibela at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, and the successful separation of craniopagus twins Siphosethu and Amahle Tyhalisi at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital in 2021.
The Star
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