Court awards R5.5m in damages after twin swop at birth

THE consequences of a tragic incident more than 20 years ago, when two sets of twin girls were accidentally swopped at birth, unfolded in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, with the Gauteng MEC for Health ending up having to pay R5.5million in damages.

- ZELDA VENTER

Judge Nomonde Mngqibisa-Thusi awarded damages to the biological mother of one set of twins - only identified as Mrs M, as well as to three of the other twins. The fourth twin did not form part of the litigation, brought on behalf of the plaintiffs by the law firm O Joubert Attorneys.

The plaintiffs’ claims follow a baby swop at the Heidelberg Hospital more than 20 years ago. Mrs M, a single mother, cared for what she thought were both her biological children, while another family, only identified as Mrs and Mr T, cared for what they believed were both their biological children.

One of each set of twins - which were separated at birth - were identical twins, but they grew up apart. The swop only came to light in 2018 after DNA testing was done, which concluded that each family had a child which was not their biological daughter.