An ouma who was born in the same year as former president Nelson Mandela will be 102 in January 2020.
Nosayinete Cetyiwe was born on 4 January 1918 in the Eastern Cape.
She is now preparing to celebrate her 102nd birthday.
But, despite being over a century old, Nosayinete is as fit as a fiddle.
She cooks for herself, cleans and walks to the shops and clinic on her own.
When the Daily Voice met Nosayinete at her home in Delft South on Tuesday, she was washing dishes and preparing her favourite dish, which is cabbage food.
Nosayinete moved to Cape Town recently with her two children, who now live in Worcester.
She had six children, four of whom have passed away.
While cleaning the dishes, Nosayinete says she has no ailments, but takes medication to keep her bones strong.
She believes the secret to long life lies in the way you live and eat.
“I grew up in the Eastern Cape where I worked on the farms, ploughing the fields and picking my own vegetables and fruit,” she says.
“We grew up eating vegetables and maize. We didn’t eat these spicy foods they have today.”
Nosayinete lives alone, but has tenants on her property.
The soft-spoken woman says she enjoys walking:”I walk to the shop, clinic and to the mall.
“I still feel the same and, yes, I can believe that I am 101.”
Nosayinete was discovered by Delft Senior Forum’s Gadija Francis. She also found 115-year-old Fredie Blom, who is possibly the oldest man in the world.
SMILES: Delft’s Nosayinete gets love from Andisiwe Viteka and Gadija Francis. Picture: Jack Lestrade
“I am passionate about helping the elderly people here in Delft,” Gadija says.