The husband of a woman who claimed to have given birth to 10 babies has gone to court to demand that she be freed after she was detained under mental health rules.

Local government officials in Pretoria in South Africa claim that Moliehi Maria Sithole, also known as Gosiame Thamara, did not give birth to 10 babies and may not have even been pregnant when the story went round the world on the basis of an exclusive filed by a local newspaper.

The newspaper also arranged for donations but it later transpired, according to a local government report, that she had never been pregnant and that she previously claimed to have given birth to triplets which was also not confirmed.

According to her and her husband Teboho Tsotetsi, she is currently held against her will at Weskoppies Psychiatric Hospital under an order from the Gauteng Department of Social Development.

The legal papers filed by Refiloe Mokoena, of Refilwe Mokoena Attorneys, said she was being held illegally after being arrested by the police without a court order or indeed any criminal case against her at all.

The story about her giving birth to decuplets was first published on 7th June and her lawyer has accused government officials of a gross violation of her rights to freedom of movement and liberty.

He said she also had the right to refuse medical treatment, adding: “I’ve been refused permission to speak to her by police who said they were acting under orders from the Department of Social Development.”

Last month, the Gauteng authorities said the initial order to hold her for 72 hours had lapsed on 22nd June and was extended for seven days, but have made no further comment since then.