Author of Tembisa 10, Piet Rampedi, has resigned from Independent Media

Piet Rampedi, former editor of the Pretoria News and originator of the infamous tale of a woman who gave birth to decuplets, afterwards dubbed the Tembisa 10, has resigned from Independent Media.

The resignation of Rampedi will become effective on Wednesday, 1 February 2023.

In June 2021, Rampedi released an article that garnered worldwide attention. He stated that Gosiame Sithole, a South African mother, gave birth to a record-breaking ten children. An investigation by the authorities determined that the ‘Tembisa 10’ never existed and that Sithole was not pregnant at the time of the alleged birth.

Rampedi made an apology to Independent Media and his coworkers, but maintained the veracity of his extraordinary narrative.

Following the release of the findings by the Public Protector, Rampedi stated that Gcaleka closed her investigation without involving the central parties or requesting particular information from him or Independent Media.

NEW: The acting @PublicProtector has dismissed accusations that a 37-year-old lady in Tembisa has given birth to 10 children.

“It has been determined that Ms. [Gosiame] Sithole was neither pregnant nor delivered decuplets as claimed,” @WeekendArgus image: https://twitter.com/eoNyaJHutj

Rampedi, who has more than 20 years of experience in both print and broadcast journalism, worked for Sunday Times, City Press, and the SABC before joining Independent Media as head of its investigative team in March 2019.

The former talk radio broadcaster was appointed deputy editor of the Sunday Times and later editor of the Pretoria News in January 2021.

The Independent Media group praised Rampedi in an email received by The South African and also wished him well for the future.