MEC Maruping Lekwene visited various hospitals across the province to meet the babies and congratulate their parents.  

The first hospitals he visited were in Kimberley - the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe and Galeshewe Day hospitals. 

ALSO READ: Free State welcomes Christmas babies

The first baby, a boy, was delivered at 00:15, with a birth weight of 3.39 kg at the Dr Harry Surtie hospital in Upington. 

At around 10:00 on Christmas morning, a total of 15 boys and six girls had been delivered across the province’s public health facilities. 

The breakdown per district is as follows:

• Frances Baard: nine,
• Pixley Ka Seme: two,
• John Taolo Gaetsewe: six,
• Namakwa: one, and
• ZF Mgcawu: three

Lekwene also expressed his gratitude to the staff at maternity units for their commitment to public service. He further wished all mothers and their babies good health and a happy festive season.

ALSO READ: NC MEC gives warm welcome to Christmas babies

For Christmas 2021, the province welcomed at least 11 newborns by 09:00 on Christmas morning. This included eight boys and three girls. 

The first baby in the province was delivered at Prof ZK Matthews District Hospital in Barkly West in the Dikgatlong Local Municipality. Lekwene at the time said these babies are special and must be given love. 

In the North West province, 43 babies were delivered before noon on Christmas Day in 2021. The Bojanala District Municipality, which includes Rustenburg, had the most delivered babies with 14 newborn babies which include a set of twins - a boy and a girl.  

The district municipality saw a total of nine girls and five boys being born before noon. The second district municipality with the most babies is the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District with 11 newborn babies.

OFM News