Saturday, 29th February 2020, proved to be a bustle of activity for both staff and parents at public health care facilities throughout the Western Cape as 65 babies were born by 15:00 on Leap Day, comprising of 24 boys and 41 girls. Leap Day comes just once every four years, so it’s a special day for newborn babies, and birthdays for both the young and the old.

Mother, Anne Gogela and father, Thandisizwe Gilmani were the first to welcome their boy at 00:04 at Tygerberg Hospital, weighing 4035 g and 51 cm in length. The second, a girl, was born at 00:06 at Gugulethu Community Health Clinic, weighing 2580 g and 52 cm in length, to mother Sivuyile Matewu.

The third Leap Day baby, a girl born at 00:10 at Retreat Community Health Centre weighing 2520 g and 48 cm in length, to mother Simbulele Tshingana and father Eric Maciye and the fourth a boy born at 00:10 at Khayelitsha District Hospital weighing 3320 g and 53 cm in length, to mother Zimbini Sobekwa.

Tygerberg Hospital has been the busiest since midnight with a total of 12 births, followed by Gugulethu Community Health Clinic with a total of 6 births, and Vanguard Community Health Clinic & MOU and Macassar Community Health Clinic with 4 births each.

Caption: Baby Gogela born at Tygerberg Hospital

Caption: Zimbini Sobekwa and baby at Khayelitsha District Hospital

Featured image: Baby Adams and mom Jo-vine Adams at Montagu Hospital