The Gift Of Life: Western Cape Welcomes 172 Babies On Christmas Day

While many were unwrapping presents under the Christmas tree, several expectant mothers spent Christmas Day in maternity wards, enduring the pains of labor to receive the most precious gifts of all - newborn babies.

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness confirmed that public health facilities across the province welcomed a total of 172 babies on Christmas Day in 2024.

Of the 172 newborns, 93 were boys and 79 were girls.

According to the department, the first three Christmas babies arrived within the first 11 minutes of the day. The very first was a baby girl, weighing 2.94kg, born at Hermanus Hospital to mother Siphe Masiki. The second, another girl weighing 3.26kg, was born at 00:10am at Paarl Hospital to Aletar Mubhida. The third baby, a boy weighing 3.43kg, was born at 00:11am at Mowbray Maternity Hospital to Zabeedah Abdeen.