Central SA
More than 200 Christmas babies born in Central South Africa─── KEKELETSO MOSEBETSI 08:40 Sat, 27 Dec 2025
More than 200 babies were born across Central South Africa on Christmas Day, marking the festive season with new life and joy for families and healthcare workers alike.
A total of 226 babies were delivered across the three central provinces on Thursday (12/25). The Free State recorded 88 births, followed by North West with 95, while the Northern Cape welcomed 43 newborns.
The Northern Cape’s first Christmas baby was a healthy baby boy, born at 00:30 at the Wege Community Health Centre in Hopetown. He weighed 3.63 kilograms at birth. According to Northern Cape Department of Health spokesperson Lebogang Majaha, the province also recorded teenage births, including two 18-year-old mothers and one 16-year-old mother.
'We celebrate with families blessed with new life'
Northern Cape Acting MEC for Health, Mase Manopole, congratulated families and healthcare workers for the successful deliveries.
“We celebrate with families who have been blessed with new life on Christmas Day. This is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our healthcare professionals who continue to work tirelessly during the festive season to ensure safe deliveries and quality maternal care,” she said.
In the Free State, Premier MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae spent Christmas Day visiting Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein, where she joined families in celebrating the birth of their babies. She also visited APD Free State, a centre for people living with disabilities, where she donated Christmas gift vouchers to residents as part of the province’s festive outreach.
Nationally, a total of 1,668 babies were born in public health facilities across South Africa on Christmas Day. Gauteng recorded the highest number with 428 births, followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 302. Other provinces recorded the following numbers: Eastern Cape (187), Limpopo (182), Mpumalanga (172), and Western Cape (171).
Teenage pregnancies on the rise
The Department of Health also noted a rise in teenage pregnancies. The number of teenage mothers increased from 90 in 2024 to just over 130 in 2025.
National Department of Health spokesperson Foster Mohale said the increase highlights the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
“collaborative efforts by all stakeholders to intensify awareness campaigns on sexual and reproductive health, including family planning, to empower adolescent girls and young women with health education to make well-informed health choices. This could help reduce unintended pregnancies and lower the number of unsafe and life-threatening abortions.”
