Hoax – Sarah Mulaudzi, a 74-year-old woman from South Africa, allegedly gave birth to a healthy girl.
Analysis
A story circulating in different languages and digital platforms has sparked curiosity and generated intense debate on social media, mainly because it touches on a sensitive topic: the limits of motherhood. The message in question reports the alleged birth by a 74-year-old South African woman. According to the text, Sarah Mulaudzi, a resident of Nzhelele, in the province of Limpopo, allegedly gave birth to a healthy girl, surprising herself and the doctors.
The narrative describes that the woman, who lost her husband 15 years ago, only discovered the pregnancy due to an unusual malaise, choosing to carry the pregnancy to term because she did not believe in abortion. The alleged news quickly gained traction, driven by a photo that accompanied the text. Read:
A 74-year-old woman from Nzhelele in Venda, Limpopo, gave birth to a healthy girl. Ms. Sarah Mulaudzi said she was shocked when doctors told her she was pregnant. She said: “I felt weak and tired. It was unusual, so I went to the hospital. I decided to keep the baby because I don’t believe in abortion.” Her husband died 15 years ago. She is living with a 19-year-old boy, who helps her fetch water and run errands. She refused to tell anyone who the father of the child is. Anyway, Congratulations.
Fact Check
The scenario, which suggests a new world record for the age of a mother, raises questions about the veracity of the information. The investigation sought to answer three central questions: 1) Did Sarah Mulaudzi, a 74-year-old woman from Limpopo, South Africa, give birth to a healthy girl? 2) Who are the oldest mothers in the world? 3) Are there similar fake news stories about age and motherhood records similar to that of Sarah Mulaudzi, a 74-year-old woman from Limpopo, South Africa?
Did Sarah Mulaudzi, a 74-year-old woman from Limpopo, South Africa, give birth to a healthy girl?
The alleged story of the birth of 74-year-old Sarah Mulaudzi has no record in reliable news sources. The message circulates exclusively on social media and messaging platforms, which already raises an alert about its veracity.
Furthermore, the photo that accompanies the hoax, often used to lend credibility to the narrative, has already been identified in other misleading publications that are unrelated to South Africa or Sarah’s story. There is, therefore, no data to confirm the existence of this birth in Limpopo, suggesting the story is a hoax.
Who are the oldest mothers in the world?
The official record for the world’s oldest mother to give birth belongs to Erramatti Mangayamma, an Indian woman who gave birth to twins through in vitro fertilization (IVF) in September 2019, at the age of 74.
However, her age, in some records, varies between 73 and 74 years, and her story is widely documented and recognized by international media. The fact that Erramatti had a documented birth with wide media coverage, in contrast to the press silence on Sarah Mulaudzi’s case, reinforces the false nature of the South African hoax.
Are there similar fake news stories about age and motherhood records similar to that of Sarah Mulaudzi, a 74-year-old woman from Limpopo, South Africa?
Yes, the topic of age records, whether in longevity or in specific events like motherhood, is fertile ground for the creation of fake news. Historically, fact-checking websites have already debunked several claims that use advanced age to generate shock and engagement. Examples include stories about a 210-year-old Pakistani woman, or about a 179-year-old Indian man. The pattern of using a generic photo and an emotional account to claim an unproven record is a common tactic in misleading messages, and the case of Sarah Mulaudzi fits perfectly into this model of disinformation.
Conclusion
In summary, the alleged story of the birth of Sarah Mulaudzi, a 74-year-old woman from Limpopo, who allegedly gave birth to a healthy girl, is unfounded. There is no official record or credible journalistic coverage of the event. The claim contradicts known facts about maternity records and uses disinformation tactics frequently observed in other hoaxes about advanced age. The story is a narrative that has circulated widely on social media but does not stand up to fact-checking.
Fake news ❌
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