LIMPOPO – Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba has confirmed that a 29-year-old Phalaborwa mom who gave birth to male conjoined twins at Mankweng Tertiary Hospital on Wednesday, January 28, is in a stable condition, along with her babies.

The mom was initially admitted to Maphuta Malatjie Hospital in Namakgale, where medical staff only discovered during labour that she was carrying conjoined twins after conducting an ultrasound.

Due to the complexity of the case, an urgent transfer was arranged to Mankweng Tertiary Hospital, where the babies were delivered and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Initial medical assessments indicate that the twins are joined at the abdomen. Ramathuba, together with Limpopo Health MEC Dieketseng Mashego, visited the mom and her babies at the hospital on Monday, February 2.

“I can confirm that the babies are well, breathing on their own, and no longer on ventilators. They weigh approximately 5kg combined and are stable. The mom is still traumatised but is adjusting well. We must pray for her, the babies, and the medical team caring for them,” Ramathuba said.

The premier expressed confidence that the planned separation surgery would be successful, noting that a team led by Prof Mashudu Tshifularo and other specialists would handle the case.

She added that this is the first recorded case of conjoined twins in the province and praised the clinicians at both Maphuta Malatjie and Mankweng hospitals for responding swiftly and professionally to the emergency.