Celebrity Breeze Bringing you fascinating stories
Related Articles
A 20-year-old Eastern Cape mother from Libode has given birth to a baby with a rare condition called progeria – a progressive genetic disorder that causes children to age rapidly.
The unusual birth has sent shockwaves through the family and the surrounding community, leaving many struggling to understand what happened.
The baby girl, now two months old, was delivered at home before being rushed to hospital. Local midwives quickly realised something was unusual: her hands were deformed, her skin was wrinkled, and she struggled to cry.
Her grandmother, who assisted during the delivery, says the family was left shaken.
“When she was in labour we called an ambulance but it took long to come. So she gave birth here at home. But the delivery got complicated and we hired a van to take her to hospital. We were told there that she’s disabled. I noticed during her birth that there was something strange with her. She did not cry and she was breathing through the ribs. I was shocked because that was strange,” she explained.
The baby has since been diagnosed with progeria, also known as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS). The condition is extremely rare and leads to premature ageing in children.
But instead of compassion, the family has found themselves facing cruelty. Pictures of the infant began circulating on social media, sparking hurtful comparisons and demeaning comments. Some users went so far as to call her names, likening her to an animal, a response that has left relatives furious and heartbroken.
“If I had means, I would put all of them in jail,” her grandmother said. “Now I hear that people are calling her names. That hurts a lot.” Children’s rights advocates say the incident highlights a deep need for public education about the condition.
“Communities must know that the mother did not apply for her baby to be like this. In a woman’s womb, there is no construction or factory that builds babies,” said Petros Majola, director of the Khula Community Development Project. “People need to embrace this child for who she is.”
Medical experts agree. Dr Martha Mayer, a neonatologist at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, described the syndrome as both rare and devastating.
“Progeria is a genetic condition that makes the baby age faster. Another thing is that these children also develop heart diseases and their life span is very short,” she explained. “We have never had a child with that condition in this hospital. It is very rare, maybe it happens to one in four or eight million people.”
Globally, progeria affects an estimated one in 20 million people. It is not inherited but occurs through a random genetic mutation. Children with the condition typically face stunted growth, hair loss, fragile skin, and heart problems, with an average life expectancy of just 13 to 20 years.
The news has prompted a swift response from the Eastern Cape government. Social Development spokesperson Mzukisi Solani confirmed that a specialist team of social workers had been dispatched to assist the young mother and her family.
“After hearing about the girl, MEC of Social Development, Siphokazi Mani-Lusithi, sent a highly skilled team of social workers to that family,” Solani said. “They will then make recommendations so that we do something to relieve the social stress this might have caused to the mother, the family and the community.”
The Department of Human Settlements has also pledged to improve the family’s living conditions, ensuring the child can grow up in a safe and supportive environment.
Community leaders say while government assistance is welcome, more needs to be done to address the stigma attached to rare conditions. For many in Libode, the baby has become a mirror reflecting both compassion and cruelty within society.
For South Africans, the case recalls the story of Ontlametse Phalatse, who captured the nation’s heart before passing away in 2017 at the age of 18. Known as “South Africa’s first lady with progeria,” Ontlametse’s bravery brought awareness to the condition and highlighted the need for empathy.
Now, the spotlight falls on the small Libode village, where a young mother and her newborn are facing the same battle. While doctors monitor the child’s health and social workers rally around the family, much of the outcome will depend on whether the community chooses to embrace them or continue to ostracise them.
The family says their greatest wish is simple: to see their little girl treated with dignity and respect.
For the grandmother, who was there at the child’s birth, the hope is that her granddaughter’s story will move people to compassion instead of ridicule. “She is still a child like any other,” she said. “She deserves love, not cruelty.”
As the debate around rare diseases, social stigma, and public education grows louder, one truth remains clear: a child’s right to dignity should never be up for debate.
