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One of Limpopo’s Successfully Separated Conjoined Twins Dies from Organ Failure
One of the conjoined twin boys who underwent a groundbreaking separation operation at Mankweng Tertiary Hospital has died from organ failure.
The identical twins, born joined at the abdomen on 28 January 2026 at the same Polokwane-area facility, were successfully separated in a complex seven-to-eight-hour procedure in mid-March.
The surgery was led by a multidisciplinary team under paediatric surgeon Professor Nyaweleni Tshifularo and marked the first procedure of its kind at a rural public hospital in Limpopo.
At the time, both infants were reported stable and recovering in the neonatal intensive care unit. The achievement was praised by Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, and President Cyril Ramaphosa as a significant milestone for the province’s public healthcare system.
The second twin’s current condition has not been publicly detailed. Hospital authorities and the family have not issued further statements.
Medical teams had previously noted the high risks involved in such separations, including potential complications like organ failure.