From left: Monene Mogashoa, CEO of Mankweng Hospital; Limpopo MEC for Health, Hon Dieketseng Mashego; Limpopo Premier, Dr Phophi Ramathuba; Professor Nyaweleni Tshifhularo, Head of Paediatric Surgery at the University of Limpopo (UL); and Dr Stanley Siebani, Clinical Director at Mankweng Hospital, celebrate the successful operation that separated conjoined twins. Photos: Lebogang Mathaba
Historic milestone at Mankweng Hospital showcases UL’s growing impact in specialised healthcare and rural medical excellence
By Johannes Selepe – Mosela.selepe@ul.ac.za
After the successful separation surgery of conjoined twins, led by Professor Nyaweleni Tshifhularo, Head of Paediatric Surgery at the University of Limpopo (UL), President Cyril Ramaphosa commended the team for their remarkable achievement, particularly given the challenges of providing specialised care in a rural healthcare setting
The twins, born in January 2026 at Mankweng Hospital, underwent the procedure at the same hospital, under the Limpopo Department of Health, with support from Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba. This operation represents a significant milestone in providing specialised healthcare services to underserved communities.
“I would like to congratulate the team for performing this surgery at a rural hospital. Normally these procedures are done in urban hospitals. This is a difficult and complex operation, and it has given an improved quality of life to the children,” said President Ramaphosa through a video call.
The complex surgery brought together a multidisciplinary team of paediatric surgeons, neonatologists, anaesthetists, plastic surgeons and general surgeons, demonstrating the strength of collaborative care in achieving advanced medical outcomes.
Professor Nyaweleni Tshifhularo, Head of Paediatric Surgery in the Department of Surgery at UL- one of the country’s foremost experts in advanced surgical care, led the intricate procedure to successfully separate the twins at Mankweng Hospital’s Department of Paediatric Surgery. The twins were born at the same hospital in January 2026.
For Professor Tshifhularo, the moment was both a professional milestone and deeply emotional.
“After the operation, we had all the desirable outcomes we envisioned, the babies are separate, they are alive, and the mother is crying out of joy,” he said.
He noted that the success followed weeks of preparation, including detailed investigations, multidisciplinary consultations and surgical rehearsals.
“We held several meetings and conducted dry runs to prepare for the surgery. The support from the Premier and the MEC ensured we had the necessary resources to succeed,” he added.
The procedure, which lasted approximately eight hours, involved the careful separation of shared organs and stabilisation of both infants. The twins, Baby K and Baby P, are now recovering.
Premier Ramathuba described the achievement as a milestone for the province’s healthcare system.
“This is a celebration of hope. For the first time, such a procedure has been successfully performed at a rural hospital. It demonstrates why we must continue investing in public healthcare infrastructure,” she said.
MEC for Health in Limpopo Hon Dieketseng Mashego highlighted the capability of the public healthcare system.
“Today we have proven that we have a committed and capable team. We will continue to support initiatives that improve healthcare delivery for our communities,” she said.
This achievement builds on UL’s sustained investment in medical training and service delivery. Since the establishment of its School of Medicine in 2016, the university has strengthened clinical training platforms and specialist services, reducing referrals to other provinces and improving access to care.
To date, UL has produced more than 200 medical doctors, contributing to addressing South Africa’s shortage of healthcare professionals, particularly in rural areas.
Professor Shisana Baloyi, Director of the School of Medicine at UL, emphasised the broader impact of the milestone.
“This historic procedure demonstrates what is possible when academic medicine, public healthcare and strong leadership come together. It reflects our vision of delivering high-quality, socially responsive healthcare while training future medical professionals,” he said.
“After the operation, we had all the desirable outcomes we envisioned, the babies are separate, they are alive, and the mother is crying out of joy.”