THE term everything happens for a reason took on a different meaning for a Mpumalanga woman who gave birth to quadruplets - long after she lost two sets of twins.

In 1998 Maria Mabunda of Phiya village in the Nkomazi area gave birth to twins, but they died in the same year after a short illnesses.

She again gave birth to twins in 2005, but they also died shortly after birth.

It was only on her fifth pregnancy - as she already has two children - that Mabunda broke waters to four whopping babies on September 25.

"God has compensated me for the loss of my two sets of twins," Mabunda said.

"When I was pregnant the doctors told me that I was carrying twins. But I was surprised when they were born and I was told there were in fact four babies."

Mabunda has named her new babies Siyamthemba, Siphosethu, Nothando and Thandolwethu.

"It was so painful when I lost my first twins and after another set died later, I wondered what I had done for God to punish me that way," she said.

"But I never lost faith. I kept on praying and asking for forgiveness of my sins and today I am very happy."

Mabunda said while she was happy about her children she found it difficult to live with them and her other two children in their one-roomed house. She has now moved to her mother's house to enable the newlyborn babies to grow.

She said it was also difficult to provide for her children since their father, Paul Makari-

nge, who works at a local farm, does not have an ID book and cannot get a decent job.

Nkomazi municipal mayor John Mavuso this week visited the Mabunda household.

"We will offer support to Maria and her babies. This is a rare occurrence but, sadly, it has the potential of putting strain on the family," he said.

"Inasmuch as we rejoice with the family, we need to ensure that the children are properly housed and fed.

"To this end we want to appeal to all citizens of our country to support the family."

The municipality donated clothes and food to Mabunda and her children.