By Staff Reporter
BURGERSDORP – Tzaneen Voice has been following the remarkable journey of the Burgersdorp quadruplets since they were 17, and today they celebrate a milestone—turning 20 years old.
On September 26th, 2004, the small village of Burgersdorp, nestled within the Greater Tzaneen area, was left in awe when Solayini Ndlovu and her late husband, Dickson Ndlovu, welcomed four precious babies into the world—Masungulo, Minkhenso, Minkateko, and Matimu.
The quads were born at Dr CN Phatudi Hospital in Makhubidung, with each baby making their debut within a remarkable four-minute span.
Masungulo was the first to arrive at 9:01 a.m., followed by Minkhenso at 9:02, Minkateko at 9:03, and finally, the surprise arrival, Matimu, at 9:04. Matimu had not been detected in the ultrasound, making his birth an unexpected but joyous surprise.
The birth weights of all four babies were healthy, much to the relief of the nurses attending the delivery. Of the four, two were boys—Masungulo and Matimu—and two were girls—Minkhenso and Minkateko.
For their mother, Solayini, now 47, the memory of that day still brings a flood of emotions. A mother of five, she had already welcomed her first child, Nkateko, nine years prior to the quadruplets’ birth. Nkateko, now 28, will celebrate her own birthday on December 9th.
In an interview on the eve of their birthday, Tzaneen Voice caught up with the quads at their Burgersdorp home. However, unlike previous years, one sibling was absent from the usual celebratory gathering.
Matimu, the youngest of the four, is currently studying electrical engineering at Capricorn TVET College in Polokwane, leaving the rest of the family a little off-balance. This absence has been a point of tension for the siblings.
Despite this, their mother’s home was still filled with the usual excitement. Solayini admitted to feeling both proud and anxious as she reflects on the past two decades, particularly now that she is raising them as a single parent following the passing of her husband four years ago.
“Raising four children alone is no easy task,” Solayini said. “My wish was for their father to see them all grown up. I just hope one day they look back and appreciate everything I sacrificed to make them who they are today.”
This year, the family skipped their traditional birthday photos, a custom they had maintained every year. Their last picture as a full family was taken last year. Masungulo, Minkhenso, and Minkateko remain at home with their mother, while Matimu continues his studies away.
The quadruplets’ educational journeys have taken different paths. Masungulo is still in Grade 10, while Minkhenso, dissatisfied with her matric results, decided to redo Grade 12.
Minkateko, currently on a gap year, is exploring her options, and as mentioned, Matimu is pursuing electrical engineering.
Despite their different ambitions, the quads are still tightly bound. They attend Burgersdorp High School, conveniently located close to home, easing their mother’s financial worries about transportation.
Surprisingly, even at 20, the siblings still enjoy wearing matching clothes—a source of playful tension when deciding what to wear.
“They are always together, and that makes it hard for their peers to connect with them individually,” said Knowledge Phokela, a close friend of the family.
“But it’s a blessing to be friends with them; their bond is truly special.”
The odds of having quadruplets are incredibly rare, with experts estimating the likelihood at 1 in 571,787 pregnancies. Most modern cases of quadruplet births result from fertility treatments, but the Ndlovu family’s quads arrived naturally—a true miracle.
Reflecting on their journey, Solayini shared, “These four have been the glue holding us together. It truly takes a village to raise a child, but when it’s four children, that saying couldn’t be more accurate.”
As they step into their third decade, the quadruplets each dream of making their mark in different fields. Minkhenso has expressed interest in nursing, while Minkateko aspires to become a teacher. Masungulo and Matimu are still finding their paths, but one thing is clear—their bond as siblings will always be their strongest asset.
Happy 20th birthday to the Burgersdorp quadruplets!
