The Free State had a slow start with the birth of babies on Christmas day, with 18 (9 boys and 9 girls) babies born by 08:00 today.

• Reitumetse Tsotetsi (18), from Phudaditjhaba gave birth to a female baby at 00:02 at the Elizabeth Ross District Hospital in Qwaqwa. Her daughter weighed 2,640kg at birth
• Mokhehle Machabala (27), from Verkeerdevlei gave birth to her son at 00:23 at the Bongani Regional Hospital in Welkom. Her son weighed 2,900kg at birth.
• Ramathatele Mapaseka (30) from Bloemfontein gave birth at 00:25 to her daughter at the National District Hospital in Bloemfontein, baby Mapaseka weighed 3,195kg at birth.

The Premier of the Free State, Ms Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae is currently visiting maternity wards at the National District Hospital and Pelonomi Academic Hospital in Bloemfontein today.

Other members of the Executive Council will also visit hospitals in the Free State with Mr Monyatso Mahlatsi, MEC for Health visiting wards at Senorita Ntlabathi District Hospital in Ladybrand, JD Newburry District Hospital in Clocolan and the Phuthuloa District Hospital in Ficksburg.