Centenarians honoured

Two Khayelitsha gogos have lived for a hundred years plus and are still going strong.

Centenarians Selina Mcunu and Nompumelelo Mgidi, both 110 years old, were invited by the Khayelitsha South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) offices to check if they were still alive last Tuesday.

Sassa assistant manager Freddie Sidali said he got a call from the national office asking him to check if the women were still alive.

“We have noticed that they are over a century old and had to look for them to verify if they are still alive. We found them and invited them to our offices to re-register and also to honour them for living this long. I personally believe that we can learn a lot from people who have lived a long life. They are now 110 years old. They were both born in 1914 which is remarkable,” said Mr Sidali.

“We asked the two centenarians, one from Site B and the other from Makhaza for the recipe for a long, healthy and happy life. They both said it was important to stay healthy.

“Granny Mcunu was the talkative one. She said the key to long life was to have fewer children and abstaining from alcohol. She said she only has three children but the most important thing in life is respect. She said back home in Cofimvaba in Sabalele village they were brought up well.”

Ms Mcunu said: “One must be a good listener. That would help to learn and respect people. We grew up in a time when parenting was very good. In a time when a child was a child. Parents were not only your parents but everyone’s parent.

“We do not eat or drink everything. Alcohol is a big no but Mqombothi is good.”

Her next birthday is on November 11 but she added that hoped not to become a “bore” to her family.

“I am too old now and I would not want to go beyond this. I would hate to bore people when I cannot even walk. Now that I am still walking I wish God can call me,” she told Vukani.

Ms Mgidi believes that it was God’s plan for her to have a long life. She maintained a healthy lifestyle by following traditional eating habits. She encouraged young mothers to feed their children traditional foods and added that she was against alcohol abuse, especially among young people.

“I am so happy that God has kept me this long. I am grateful that I can spend time and see my grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Young mothers can learn something from us. I do not drink or smoke. I never went out to parties or succumbed to life’s demands. I believe that God had a plan for me. I only have five children so I always advise them to live a clean life,” she said.

Gogo Mgidi celebrates her birthday on January 23.