In ancient civilizations it was the number of labours undertaken by Hercules , the amount of gods who lived on Mount Olympus and the total signs of the Zodiac . But now the number 12 has cropped up in another mystifying setting - on a baby 's forehead . Hanru van Niekerk was born in Johannesburg , South Africa on November 11 , 2014 , with a strange birthmark on his face in the shape of digits ' 1 ' and ' 2 ' . Scroll down for video . Special : Little Hanru van Niekerk was born with a birthmark shaped like the number 12 on his forehead . Cute : The family of the little boy , who lives in Johannesburg in South Africa , spotted the markings soon after he was born on November 11 2014 . Doctors have reassured the family of the boy , now four months old , that the markings will gradually fade with time . Great grandmother Catherine Jooste told the Northcliff Melville TImes that they have embraced the peculiar birthmark , which was a 'beautiful surprise ' . She said : 'My youngest daughter was the first one to see it and she said there is a 1 and a 2 on his forehead . 'We did not worry about it , his doctor said it will fade as he gets older . ' According to NHS Choices , birthmarks come in two main categories , vascular or pigmented . Vascular birthmarks tend to occur in the head or neck area , being caused by abnormal blood vessels in or under the skin , which can fade after a few months . In comparison , pigmented birthmarks are tan or brown-coloured , caused by a cluster of pigment cells . Most birthmarks are harmless and do n't need to be treated .
Little Hanru van Niekerk was born with the number 12 on his forehead . Number has connotations with ancient world , Bible and signs of South Africa . His family in Zodiac say they have embraced the 'beautiful surprise '