14 May 2019

August 12, 2018, was an emotional and happy day for Mr Jonas Borow, the father of the Tonota quadruplets, Christened the ‘four Kings,’ as it marked their birthday.

The day was filled with laughter and happiness as friends and family received the news that his companion had given birth to four children. 

The 29-year-old from Dibete is the father of Tshimologo, Tshenolo, Tshiamo and Tsholofelo, who were all born fit at Francistown’s Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital in the early hours of August 12.

Tshiamo sits on his lap, but every few minutes Mr Borow holds another baby, kissing their heads and giving them an equal amount of attention.

“We had our plan, but God had his own plans. He cannot give you a burden that you cannot carry,” those were the words of Mr Borow after he received the news that he was the father of ‘four kings.’

He and his companion, Ms Pego Race of Tonota, were expecting triplets, but got a surprise with the arrival of the fourth infant, Tsholofelo.

He admits that he initially panicked when he received the news that Ms Race was pregnant with triplets, and was later shocked when he heard that she had given birth to quadruplets.

“The day she gave birth I was at Dibete main kgotla and something just came to my mind to phone her. I was a little bit shocked when she told me that she received four babies,” said the soft spoken Mr Borow, with a little bit of nervousness in his face. 

He said although at first he was stressed and wondered if God was punishing him with four children at the same time, he later consoled himself and accepted them because God could not curse with children.

“I have since relocated from Dibete to Tonota to come and assist my companion in raising the children, and I vow to love my children and do everything in my power to make them happy,” said the proud father, who ekes a living doing piece jobs. 

 Mr Borow said his family members were not shocked because they were used to multiple births, citing his grandmother who had twins twice and a nephew who recently also had twins. 

Although Mr Borow is not a doctor, he brushed aside rumours that the use of traditional concoctions such as kgarametsa or push-in could help men to produce more children, saying such issues are genetic.

He said he wished to secure a permanent job in order to raise the ‘four kings’ properly and to give them a bright future.

All the four babies, who were born through Caesarian section, are doing great and so are their mother and father.

Ms Race said during their first few weeks, the most difficult issue was night time feedings because she had to breastfeed them every two hours. 

“The quads are all healthy and are gaining weight on a daily basis, and we expect them to continue to grow,” she said, adding that the only challenge was their eyes.

She said in previous check-ups, Tshimologo, Tshiamo and Tsholofelo weighed 10kg whilst Tshenolo weighed 9.7 kg.

The other problem is that food donations are drying up, and Ms Race has appealed to area MP, Mr Thapelo Olopeng, through his foundation, to continue sensitising and requesting individuals and companies to assist them. 

Ms Race, who has 10 children under her care, four girls and six boys, said she wanted to celebrate the ‘four kings’ birthday this year, funds permitting. 

She was not only blessed with four babies, but made history as the second woman ever to birth quadruplets at Nyangabgwe Referral Hospital. 

In 2011, another woman, Ms Dineo Keetshepe, who hails from Mahalapye, became a mother of three baby girls and a boy. ENDS