A poor young Butterworth couple have welcomed a rare gift into the world – identical triplets.
Siyanda, Simnikiwe and Siyamthanda were born naturally at 2am on Friday morning at the Butterworth Hospital to Anathi Mqulwana, 22.
The three little girls weighed 1830g, 2060g and 2050g.
Mqulwana has two other children. She is unemployed.
Her partner and father of the children, Khangelani Nkonyeni, 32, is a part-time petrol attendant.
The couple live in Qora village between Butterworth and Dutywa.
Nkonyeni said yesterday that the triplets had come as a big surprise.
“We had a scan twice and each time the scans showed she was carrying twins,” Nkonyeni said.
He got to the hospital three hours after the babies were born and began worrying over what they were going to eat.
“I mean I don’t earn a lot so I was worried but then again, something told me that God would never give me a challenge I cannot handle,” Nkonyeni said.
Nkonyeni only works during weekends so for now he can help take care of the bundles of joy during the week.
Eastern Cape health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the triplets were born in excellent condition.
The department is aware that the family may need government assistance and social workers would visit to assess the situation.