Formerly conjoined Pongola twins breathing on their own post-surgery

Formerly conjoined Pongola twins breathing on their own post-surgery

Doctors have confirmed that formerly-conjoined twin sisters from Pongola - who were joined at the chest and abdomen at birth - are now breathing independently.

Separated conjoined twins Albert luthuli
Nushera Soodyal


The girls, Siphiwe and Nkosingiphiwe Mbuyisa, underwent 13 hours of surgery to separate them at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli hospital in Durban, last weekend.

A team of more than 20 specialists were involved in the surgery. 

ALSO READ: Parents of separated conjoined twins grateful for support


Chief Specialist for Neonatal medicine, Harshavadan Mackanjee, confirmed that the other twin began breathing on her own yesterday morning. 


He says they will remain in hospital for another six weeks.


"Following the operation, the babies came to the neonatal ICU. They were on numerous machines, with life support tubes - in fact, you could barely see the babies faces, with all the paraphernalia of intensive care around them. Fortunately, the babies have done extremely well, and they continue to do well," he said.

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