Durban - An Mlazi couple celebrated the dawn of 2013 with a double delight when they were blessed with twins on the stroke of midnight. Phumzile Gumede and Vitalis Khanyile of H-section, now have a baby girl and boy to add to their family and could not wait to go home to celebrate.
”I’m so happy. It’s the first time anyone in my family has had twins. Even my mother can’t wait for them to come home,” said Khanyile at the the babies’ cot-side at King Edward VIII hospital in Durban.
He had not believed doctors when they told him the scan showed that he and Gumede were expecting twins, and he could not be happier. His son would be Nhlanhla (Lucky), while his daughter would be named by her mother.
Meanwhile, at Addington hospital, nurses said that they were excited that the first baby was also born at midnight. By late afternoon the tally stood at four – three girls and a boy. Nursing staff at the Prince Mshiyeni Memorial hospital were kept busy with at least eight babies delivered between midnight and noon.
At Westville hospital, Sue and Graeme Brebner welcomed Nathan, almost a month early. His mother said he looked like both his parents and she was very excited to have him in their lives, but was keen to catch up on some sleep.
At Parklands hospital, Charlene Jeejodha gave birth to Levi Benjamin six days earlier than expected. “He decided he wanted to come on New Year’s Day.”
A total of 57 babies were born across Gauteng during the first hours of 2013.
Charlotte Maxeke in Johannesburg had the most visits from the stork, with nine girls and six boys delivered, said health MEC Hope Papo.
Mamelodi hospital had 11 babies take their first breath and Chris Hani Baragwanath welcomed 10 new lives.
Kafalong and Yusuf Dadoo hospitals were the first home of seven babies a piece, while Bertha Gxowa gave special attention to the four babies it brought into the world.
Steve Biko hospital has two little girls and a boy sleeping sweetly in its wards on Tuesday.
“We congratulate all the mothers that gave birth today and also encourage them to take good care of their babies and ensure that they receive the necessary immunisation,” said Papo in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape added 81 babies to its nurseries, including a set of twin girls born at Nelson Mandela Academic hospital, provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said.
Limpopo will be reverberating with the soothing sounds of many a lullaby, after preliminary figures indicated 95 babies had made their way into the world in 2013 thus far, said the province's health spokeswoman Sinenhlanhla Gumede. - The Mercury and Sapa