Cape Town – South Africa welcomed 2026 with 1,669 babies born on New Year’s Day, up from 1,448 last year, across all nine provinces’ public health facilities.
Gauteng recorded the most births (396), followed by KwaZulu-Natal (334) and Limpopo (234), while the Northern Cape had the fewest (50).
One baby was born exactly at midnight at Mowbray Maternity Hospital in the Western Cape, weighing 3.8 kg.
The Health Department emphasised the importance of immunisation and safe care for newborns.
“One of the first babies of the year was born at Mowbray Maternity Hospital in the Western Cape at 00:00, weighing 3.8 kg, to proud mother Geneva Claasen. The Department congratulates all mothers and reminds them to ensure the babies are protected from childhood diseases and injury by getting immunised and by being careful at home,” Health Department spokesperson Foster Mohale.
South Africa records 1,669 New Year’s Day births
South Africa ushered in 2025 with the arrival of 1,669 babies born across all nine provinces on New Year’s Day, according to provisional birth statistics.
Of the newborns, 871 were girls and 798 were boys, giving female births a… pic.twitter.com/KjhV58htnV
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) January 3, 2026
“The Department is committed to travel side by side with mothers and caregivers to ensure all children receive the nurturing care they need to develop best.”
Concerns were raised about teen pregnancies, with over 160 teenage mothers delivering on New Year’s Day, double the number from 2025.
“More than 160 teenage girls are amongst mothers who delivered bundles of joy this year, compared to just over 80 teen mothers recorded in 2025 New Year`s Day.”
The Department called for stronger c
As the country ushered in the New Year, public hospitals across South Africa were already hard at work, welcoming the first babies of 2026. At Leratong Hospital in Krugersdorp ambulances arrived through the night as maternity wards remained under pressure. #Newzroom405‘s… pic.twitter.com/mHrDfmfUXU
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) January 1, 2026
ollaboration with government, NGOs, parents, and youth-friendly health services to educate teens on sexual and mental health.
Teen pregnancies remain a major social crisis, with StatsSA reporting 123,971 births to mothers aged 19 and under between January 2024 and February 2025, affecting young South Africans’ health, education, and future prospects.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
