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Wednesday, January 21, 2026

UPDATE: 171 babies born on Christmas Day in the Western Cape

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The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness has welcomed 171 babies across public health facilities on Christmas Day 2025. Among the newborns were 80 boys and 91 girls.

 

On Christmas Day 2024, the Western Cape’s public health facilities welcomed 172 babies (93 boys, 79 girls).

 

The first three 2025 Christmas babies arrived just after midnight. At Helderberg Hospital, Zizibele Silo gave birth to a 3.5kg baby girl at exactly 00:00.

 

Minutes later, at Khayelitsha District Hospital, Alena Nkayi welcomed a 2.1kg baby girl at 00:04.

 

The third Christmas baby, also a girl, was born at Worcester Hospital at 00:18 to mother Enid Asjan.

 

“Welcoming new life at Christmas is a profound blessing, a reminder of hope and renewal during this season of joy,” said Western Cape Health and Wellness MEC Mireille Wenger. She praised healthcare workers who ensured safe deliveries even while away from their own families.

 

The Department emphasises that the first thousand days of a child’s life are critical for development, with proper nutrition, immunisations, and early stimulation laying the foundation for lifelong health and learning.

 

Wenger congratulated all the families on the safe arrival of their little ones and thanked staff, including midwives, for their dedication on Christmas Day.

 

Nationally, 714 babies were born on Christmas Day 2025 between midnight and noon in public health facilities.

 

*This article was updated to reflect the final number of babies born on 25 December 2025.

 

Liesl Smit
Liesl Smit
Liesl is the Smile 90.4FM News Manager. She has been at Smile since 2016, with nearly 20 years experience in the radio industry, including reading news, field reporting and producing. In 2008 she won the Vodacom Journalist of the Year Award, Western Cape region. liesl@smile904.fm

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