SOUTH AFRICA'S CENTENARIANS

Corrie WIJNBEEK lived through two World Wars (28 Jul 1914 – 11 Nov 1918 and 01 Sep 1939 – 02 Sep 1945), the Spanish Flu (1918 – 1920), the Great Depression (Aug 1929 – Mar 1933), and the current COVID-19 pandemic. She passed away on 13 July 2021 at the age of 108 in Swartruggens.
She was living with her son, Dirk WIJNBEEK (75) a Gereformeerde Kerk minister, and his wife Nelriet, who looked after her.

Cornelia Geertje VAN DER BURGH (aka Corrie) was born on 18 February 1913 in Den Haag, The Netherlands. She was married on 08 December 1937 and had five children. During WWI, her husband, Dirk Hendrik Petrus WIJNBEEK (13 Jan 1914 - Jul 1981), was a prisoner-of-war in Germany, and one of her sons, Dirkie, died at home. She immigrated to South Africa in 1949 with her husband and four children. They rented a home in Johannesburg before buying land in Bodmin Street, New Redruth, Alberton, and building a house. Dirk Hendrik Petrus worked in the paint business in Alberton, where Corrie lived for 58 years.
In those early years in New Redruth, the roads were still untarred, and there was no sewage system in place, a night wagon came through twice per week to empty the buckets.
A daughter, Yvonne, and her husband Willem RAS, were killed in a car hijacking on the N12 near Eldorado Park in 2008.
Her other son, Marinus (28 Aug 1939 - 02 Aug 2020) was a well-known scientist, journalist and SABC TV presenter. He was a lecturer for 9 years before he joined the SABC as science editor. In 1979 the SABC started broadcasting the Afrikaans science magazine show Brandkluis for 4 seasons, in which Marinus as presenter discussed science subjects. He immigrated to the Netherlands in September 1996 with his wife, Annatjie. He was the founder of Kempton Park Technical College. 

Another daughter is Beatrix VAN DER WALT who lives in Brackenhurst, Alberton.
After a break-in at her flat in Alberton, she moved in with Dirk and Nelriet. In 2013 they moved from Steynsburg in the Eastern Cape to Swartruggens.
She had 14 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
At the time of her death, Corrie was the second-oldest living Dutch emigrant, after Catharina VAN DER LINDEN (born 26 August 1912)of Adelaide, Australia.

Ella

Ella Johanna POTGIETER, age 101, tested positive for COVID-19 in June 2021, and survived. Ella Johanna THERON was born on 22 July 1920 in Middelburg, Eastern Cape. Her family moved to Pretoria when she was 4 years old. She attended Laerskool Oost-Eind in Sunnyside, and Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool. Ella is the high school's oldest living past student, celebrating her 100th birthday in the school's century year. She left school in Grade 10, to work on the family farm in Rosslyn. She married Barend Jacobus Daniel POTGIETER (14 Aug 1916 - 12 Oct 1988) on 08 November 1941. She worked as a school secretary at Laerskool Akasia for many years before retiring in 1982. Ella currently lives in Pretoria North with her daughter Welma JACOBSZ. Ella has three children - two daughters, and a son who died four years ago. She has 8 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Shariefa

Shariefa KHAN (100) has finally returned to District Six, where she once lived with her husband and six children until the Group Areas Act evictions of the 1960s. On 17 June 2021, she received the news that she was getting a new 2-bedroom flat in Russell Street. She had applied for a house in 1996 and is the oldest living District Six land claimant. She is one of 108 people who were due to move into their new homes this July, but a construction snag has caused a delay.
On 11 February 1966, the government declared District Six a white area and shortly thereafter, the family received a letter that they would have to move. Shariefa and her husband, Dawood, lost their house and their Bombay Cafe (aka Dout's Cafe) at 238 Hanover Street in the evictions in 1968, the buildings were bulldozed. Dawood (aka Dout) was a chef. The family lived in Bailey Flats in Hanover Street, close to the Avalon Bioscope. Their cafe was famous for its Indian and Cape Malay cuisine. The family was forced to move to Rylands Estate on the outskirts of Cape Town in the then newly-formed Cape Flats.
She's been living with her daughter, Sumaya MUKADAM (59), a caterer, in Connaught Estate, Elsiesrivier. Another daughter, Nadiema KHAN (68), will move in with her mother in the new house to care for her as Shariefa had a stroke in stroke in December 2020 which left her whellchair-bound.
Shariefa was born on 25 April 1921in Vryburg, North West, to Ahmad Khan DESHMUKH and Gadija MALLAK - who were Indian immigrants to South Africa. Her family moved to Cape Town in 1928, first living in Muizenberg and later in Kensington where her father had the first halaal butchery in the area. She had eight siblings but only one younger sister is alive and she lives overseas. Shariefa married Dawood KHAN, also an Indian migrant living in District Six.
Dawood died in 1978 at age 63 of heart failure. Shariefa started making samoosas for an income, working into her 90s. Of her six children, only three are alive - Sumaya, Nadiema, and Rashida DA COSTA (63) who lives in Crawford, Cape Town. A daughter, Shamsunisa, died at 21, and another daughter, Zainab, died at 12 in an accident in front of the family's cafe. Her only son, Abdullah, died at age 72. She has 17 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren.

Bredenkamp twins

Hendrik and Anna BREDENKAMP, twins born on 31 August 1919 and originally from Bultfontein in the Free State, celebrated their 100th birthday in Garsfontein, Pretoria. The wheelchair-bound twins were the last surviving of 11 children. Anna never married and worked as a missionary in Malawi for 26 years, after which she did counselling work with soldiers at 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria. Besides Afrikaans, she was fluent in English, Zulu and Chichewa. Anna died on 28 July 2020 of COVID-19, at Serene Park Retirement Home in Garsfontein.
The twins lived at Serene Park Retirement Home, with Hendrik living in a private unit across the road with his son Gerhard.
Hendrik was a Magistrate in the Free State, and later the Chief Magistrate in Pretoria. He was also fluent in English, Zulu and Dutch. He married Mona Marie Catharine BAASCH on 26 January 1946 and they had five children. Mona died on 18 October 2002 in Pretoria. Hendrik has 13 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Tossie GOUWS celebrated her 100th birthday on 15 February 2021 at Ons Tuis Riviera Retirement Home in Pretoria. She's lived at Ons Tuis since May 2014.
Hendrika Margaretha MEINTJIES was born in Klerksdorp, where she grew up. She outlived two husbands, VAN ZYL and GOUWS. Her oldest daughter is 80 years old, another, Tersia KLEYNHANS is 72. Tossie had 6 children, and has 15 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great-grandchildren.
She once sent some of her smocking work to Princess Anne. Tossie was also a baker and cook. At one stage, she and her husband owned a furniture store, and she was a regional manager for Russels. 

Katriena, Jan (back), John-Will, Benjamin 

Katriena STRYDOM of Rietvallei farm, near Robertson, was born on 28 June 1919. She grew up in the area, and worked on the farm in the house and in the vineyards. Her first work was as a shepherd on Chris VILJOEN's farm.
Her mother died at age 106. Katriena had 9 children, of which 5 are deceased. She has 25 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, including Benjamin LOUW (grandson) and John-Will ARENDSE (great-grandson).

Janet ROBERTS died at age 101 at Huis Weltevrede in Welkom on 01 June 2014. She was often seen at rose shows, and at age 95 was still doing her own laundry and ironing. Her son, Ian, visited her every day, and until a few weeks before he passing, they would go out forice cream or waffles evey day.
In her younger years she was a league tennis player in Virginia. She stopped playing tennis at age 79.
Janet ARNOT was born on 07 February 1913 in Roodepoort. She married William Robert Charles ROBERTS on 01 June 1940, and they settled in Virginia in 1952. He worked at the Harmony Gold Mine. They had two sons, Ian and Clive. Janet had 2 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

Miss Mary

Miss Mary SWART of Huis Klippedrift in Napier celebrated her 100th birthday on 04 June 2015. She moved to Huis Klippedrift in 2015.
Maria Carolina SWART (aka Miss Mary) was born on 04 June 1915 on Heuningberg farm in Bredasdorp. She died on 18 Julie 2017 at age 102 in Napier.
Her father donated a small hall on his property to the African People's Organisation so that they could have a meeting place. Her sister, Susan and husband Jack VAN RENSBURG, fought to save the buildings that now house the Shipwreck Museum in Bredasdorp. In 1967, the authorities planned to demolish the old Independent Church building and hall. The community joined hands and after a large donation from Gideon ALBERTYN, they raised funds for a museum fund. The buildings, which belonged to the Anglican Church at that stage, were bought under the auspices of the municipality and declared a National Monument. The church building houses the Shipwreck Museum and the old hall next door houses the village museum. Miss Mary was an active member of the Friends of the Shipwreck Museum.

Lydia RADEBE of Villiers in the Free State turned 100 in August 2019. She was born on 13 August 1919 on a farm near Villiers.
In 1995 she received the first low-cost 3-room house built in Qalabotjha, Villiers, where she lived with two granddaughters. For her 100th birthday the community made repairs to the house.

Gerty LÖTTER of Robbertsz Street, Brandwacht in Stellenbosch celebrated her 100th birthday on 29 April 2019. She was born in Hopefield. She lived in Somerset West for many years before moving in with her daughter, Rita DE JAGER. Gerty was the youngest of 9 children and outlived them all. She also outlived her son. Gerty died in November 2019.

Willie SMIT turned 100 years old on 10 June 2021, a few days before moving to Ons Tuis Rivera in Pretoria.
Willem Frederick Jacobus SMIT was born on 10 June 1921 near Boksburg, one of six children. Three of them are still alive. He started an apprenticeship at Simmer & Jack Mine, and worked until his 40s on the gold mines in the Welkom area. He left to farm with sheep and cattle on the Highveld, together with his wife Henriëtte and their 4 children ((of whom two daughters are still alive). They later retired to Hartenbos for a few years before moving to Pretoria. He outlived Henriëtte and 2 children. Willie has 7 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild.

Chithekile MaGumede HLABISA, 101, survived COVID-19 and later received her vaccination. One of her daughters, Nelisiwe HLABISA, died from COVID-19. Chithekile lives in Ward 1 near Mzingazi in KwaZulu-Natal.

Eunice

Eunice FICK from Bellville, Cape Town, celebrated her 102nd birthday by getting the COVID-19 vaccine on 26 May 2021. Eunice DE JAGER was born in Oudtshoorn and has lived in her flat behind Eureka Retirement Home in Bellville for 26 years. Welhma LISHMAN is one of two daughters.
Eunice has 7 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Her husband, Gabriel Stephanus FICK (aka Kokkie), died on 04 September 2009 at age 94. They were married on 14 March 1945. She is one of Die Burger newspaper's oldest subscribers, having had a subscription for more than 50 years. Her father was also a subscriber.

Coba SCHABORT of Bloemfontein celebrated her 104th birthday on 29 April 2021, spending the day with her two daughters, 9 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Her daughter, Annalet NEL, lives with her in a townhouse in Langenhoven Park. Helene WILKE is her other daughter.
Coba is the oldest member of the Voortrekkerbeweging, having been a member for 90 of their 101 years. She received an honorary award from them in their centenary year.
She grew up in Reivilo, in North West province. The town was named after her father, A.J. OLIVIER. Coba survived the Spanish Flu pandemic, having been infected in 1918.

CENTURY CLUB - 100+ BIRTHDAYS

Rassie ERASMUS of the Louis Trichardt Old Age Home in Dannville, Pretoria, celebrated her 100th birthday on 04 June 1992.

Claude DE VILLIERS of the Susan Strydom Old Age Home in Colbyn, Pretoris, turned 105 on 05 June 1992. He is married to Esther (78 years old in 1992). They were married in 1960.

Dawid Niklaas BREEDT of Germiston celebrated his 100th birthday 26 March 2001, together with his sons Hans (68 in 2001) and Fik (64 in 2001), his daughter Marie MARAIS (58 in 2001) and a great-grandson Dave BREEDT (8 years old in 2001). He lives with his daughter and has 38 children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. His advice for long life is eat healthily, don't smoke or drink alcohol, don't get angry, and if you argue with someone, make peace before you go to sleep. He is a bit deaf and the eye sight is dimmer, but otherwise healthy, having only been in hospital once for appendicitis. When he received his first salary, you could buy a whole sheep for 5 shillings!

Aaltje HUIZINGA of Welgelegen celebrated her 100th birthday on 17 August 2001. Her secret to long life is keeping a positive and optimistic attitude, staying away from junk food, a good night's rest, never stop learning, and keep busy. She was born in 1901 in Leeuwarden, Friesland. Aaltje was an opera singer. Her husband, Bertus, died at the age of 89 in 1999. He used to work for KLM and decided to retire to the Cape, after spending three years in Goodwood. In 1989 they returned to the Cape permanently. Aaltje is a bit deaf, but still reads without spectacles and walks without a walking stick or aid. She still enjoys doing crossword puzzles and needlework. She does her own shopping, accompanied by her son Gerrit. Her great-grandson, Steven STEYN, was 1 year old at her 100th birthday.

Annie LANDMAN, grandmother of Professor Christina LANDMAN, celebrated her 100th birthday on 16 October 2004 in Constantia Park, Pretoria. Her four daughters and her son Professor Willem LANDMAN joined in the celebrations. Annie's husband died at the age of 82. She said her happiest day was when her son received his first degree. The week prior to her 100th birthday, one of her daughter's daughter-in-law, Mariana ENGELBRECHT (48), was fatally shot outside her mother's house by a car hijacker.

Jacoba OTTO of Huis Uitkoms in Bethulie celebrated her 100th birthday on 18 November 2004. Although hard of hearing, she is healthy and does not take any medication. Jacoba, maiden name ALBERTS, was born in Bloemfontein, one of 10 children. She had 10 children - one daughter with her first husband, and four daughters and five sons with her second husband. The five daughters and two sons were still living in 2004. Jacoba has 37 grandchildren, 54 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Jacoba spent her life living in Bloemfontein, Reddersburg and later in Oviston, before moving to the retirement home. One of her daughters, Jana DU TOIT, said her mother played various musical instruments, including the organ, guitar and accordion.

Joep FOURIE was born on 01 February 1905 in Ladybrand. She celebrated her 100th birthday in Bloemfontein. Her grandfather JOUBERT died at the age of 98. Her daughter, Liesbeth OOSTHUIZEN, said her mother enjoys music, chatting, knitting and crossword puzzles. Joep grew up in Hobhouse.

Bill BRAYFIELD from Tweespruit celebrated his 100th birthday on 16 June 2005. He is the oldest Tweespruit resident. The local bank treated him to a champagne breakfast, and the Freemasons held a function for him. His family celebration included 150 guests. His secret to long life? Keep your head occupied. Bill keeps the local Anglican Church's and the bowling club's bookkeeping up to date. Bill plays bowls twice per week. He is also an active member of the South African Legion and honorary Old Bill of the MOTHS. He was born in England. In 1919, at the age of 15 years, he immigrated to South Africa with his mother and step-father, settling in Tweespruit where Bill later became a farmer. He can still recall the locust plague of 1934, which destroyed most of his maize crop. One of his daughters is Maryann OERTEL.

Johanna SIEGRUHN of the Deutsches Altesheim, a retirement home in Groenkloof, Pretoria, celebrated her 101 years on 10 October 2005. A positive outlook on life, interesting social life and regular card games are her secrets to staying alert at her age. She celebrated the milestone birthday with family, including her son Adriaan SIEGRUHN and daughter-in-law Gwen SIEGRUHN, and the home's residents including Fredeburg PENZHORN who turned 100 on 10 November 2005.  Johanna was born in Caledon. She met her husband, Johan Adriaan SIEGRUHN, in the Netherlands where he worked in the Embassy there. She has two children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Moloko TEMO of Bochum in Limpopo celebrated 132 years on 04 July 2006. She has been blind for 54 years and uses a wheelchair. According to her identity book, issued in 1988, she was born in 1874. The Department of Home Affairs interviewed her and her children to gauge her birth date. She has eight children, 29 grandchildren, 59 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. She lives with her daughter Evelen TEMO (78 in 2006). Moloko used to play a lot of field hockey when she was young. She voted in the April 2009 elections and passed away on 03 June 2009. The Guinness World Records never recognised her age. Moloko was a member of the Limpopo Century Club, founded by Tom BOYA and standing at 440 members in 2003. Members included Emily MUKWEVHO of the Vhembe area (129 in 2003) and Mmakgomo SEKHUKHUNE (124 in 2003) of Mohlatse in the Sekhukhune area.

Mealiepap, mampoer and whole cloves of garlic are the secrets to Piet SCHOLTZ's long life. He lives in an old age home in Zeerust, where he celebrated his 102nd birthday in January 2008. Four generations of family members attended his birthday party, including his two daughters, Ralie LE GRANGE (74 in 2008) and Elsa GROVE (71 in 2008), and his great-great-grandchildren, the eldest being Coenraad BOSHOFF (13 in 2008). The former farmer walks with a walking stick. He served six years in the Army and cooked for 300 soldiers during the Second World War. He knew General Jan SMUTS, having stood guard for him in Irene. Piet grew up on his father's ostrich farm outside Aberdeen.

Eli JAARS from Daniëlskuil celebrated her 100th birthday on 12 March 2009 in the Town Hall with 150 guests. She lives alone and does all her housework on her own. Eli was born in the Kuruman district, and moved to Daniëlskuil in 1928. She had 10 children, of which four were still living in 2009 - Maria, Liz (married to Danie BAKKER), Dawid and John. Eli has 28 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Margaretha CROUKAMP celebrated her 102nd birthday on 07 July 2010 in Parys. After her husband's death in 1977, she lived in Lichtenburg, then Warmbaths, and later with her son in East London. After his death, she moved to Parys to be closer to her youngest son and his wife, who live in Sasolburg. Margaretha lived in a flat in a security estate, before buying a townhouse in the same estate at the age of 100. She still knits jerseys for poor children in Kenya, sending them with her neighbour's children who do mission work in Kenya. She is also an avid reader of newspapers, magazines and spiritual books. Margaretha has eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Vytjie BOYISE of Tiryville, Uitenhage, celebrated 101 years on 24 July 2010. Ouma Faith, as the great-grandmother is known, was born on 24 July 1909 in Dorbos, Glenconnor district. She has 12 children, of which eight were still living in 2010, including Sanna JAFTA. There are 34 grandchildren including Brenda SIZE and Tersia JAFTA, and 56 great-grandchildren including Duwayne SIZE, Juandré COETZEE and Diane JAFTA.

Koosie BESTER celebrated his 100th birthday in 2010 at the Noorderbloem Retirement Home in Bloemfontein. He was joined by his son, André, who lives in New Zealand. His daughter, Hermine VAN ROOYEN, lives on the farm Ruste Mari outside Brandfort. Koosie was born in Moorreesburg. He worked as a liaison officer between the railways and harbour in Cape Town. After retiring in 1970, he moved to Hermanus with his wife, Minnie, where he was well-known for his rose garden. In 2005 they moved to Noorderbloem Retirement Home in Bloemfontein to be closer to their daughter. Minnie died in 2007 at the gae of 83. Koosie has seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Alida LEWIS of Gemsbok Street, Kleinvlei in Blue Downs celebrated her 100th birthday on 17 February 2011, and puts her longevity down to no alcohol and Bob Martins pills. She maintains the pills cured her gout. Patricia DE LILLE, now mayor of Cape Town, also celebrated her 60th birthday on the same day, and attended Alida's party. Alida worked as a housekeeper. She was born in 1911 in Laingsburg and at the age of 11 years moved to Cape Town. She has nine children, 70 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren and 37 great-great-grandchildren. Her grandfather lived to the age of 108 and her grandmother to 106. Alida's siblings have all passed on. She lives with her daughter Andrika (56 in 2011).

Cornelis (Kees) VAN DAM celebrated his 100th birthday on 25 March 2011 with a tandem parachute jump, making him the oldest person in South Africa to do so. It was his first jump. Robert VERNER of the Pretoria Parachute Club was his instructor. Cornelis' son, Chris, had a hot air ballon ride in mind for the century celebration, but his father said it was too slow for him. Cornelis was born on 25 March 1911 in Vlaardinger, the Netherlands. In 1933 he joined the Royal Dutch-Indian Legion and the following year left by steamship for Indonesia. He worked in the topographic services, making maps. In his spare time, he was a keen photographer. In 1942 the Japanese attached Indonesia and he was taken prisoner. He was taken to Singapore, where the Japanese used his skills to lay out a railway line. Five years later he returned to the Netherlands, where he met his wife, Nellie PENNING. Nellie had married in Indonesia and Cornelis was the wedding photographer. Her husband died early in the war, leaving her a widowed mother of three children. Cornelis and Nellie were married in 1948. Cornelis retired at the age of 45, and in 1958 immigrated to South Africa with his family. He bought a house in Lyttelton, Centurion, and worked as a photographer for the South African Air Force at Swartkop until 1976, when he finally retired.

Lenie BADENHORST celebrated her 100th birthday on 10 November 2011 at Ons Gryse Jeug in Sasolburg. She was born in 1911 in Elandsfontein, Potchefstroom district. She married Theuns and they had three daughters. They lived on a farm in Kaalfontein, between Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark. Theuns fought in World War II and Lenie started farming with cut flowers. Every Saturday morning she would drive into Vereeniging with a carload of flowers for the market. Lenie has seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Maria Magdalena SLABBERT (maiden name BOSHOFF) celebrated her 101st birthday on 25 March 2012 in Paarl. She passed away on 21 May 2012. Maria had lived in Nylstroom prior to moving to Paarl.

Henk GEEVE celebrated his 100th birthday on 08 April 2012 at Mooihawe Tehuis in Bloemfontein. His secret to long life? "Don't die." Henk was born in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. At the age of 30, he immigrated to South Africa with his wife Maria and their two daughters. They settled in Johannesburg, where he owned hairdressing salons. His daughter, Hennie LE ROUX, runs the hairdressing salon at Mooihawe Tehuis. Forty-two years ago, Henk and his family settled in Bloemfontein, where he owned a paint factory and later a fencing / walling business. He drove his own car until the age of 94.

Tinie VAN DER WALT celebrated her 100th birthday on 10 April 2012 at Huis Uitkoms in Bethulie. Tinie was born on the farm Gelykfontein in the Venterstad district. Her maiden name was VAN DER WALT and she was an only child. After marrying Boer VAN DER WALT, they settled on the farm and farmed with thoroughbred race horses and Merino sheep. The couple had five children - three daughters and twin sons. Tinie was very involved in the local women's organisations and her local church. She had many creative talents, including designing and making hats. After Boer's death in 1977, she left the farm and settled in Venterstad. She moved back to farm for a while, where she lived with her son Schalk and his wife Christa, before moving to Huis Uitkoms. Tinie has 13 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Catootje VAN DER WALT of Theunissen celebrated her 105th birthday on 17 May 2012. She lives with her daughter Ninie KOTZE. She has been confined to her bed for the last five years, and believes that laughter is the secret to a long life. Her hearing and sight are not too good. Her father was born in Holland, where he studied to be a pharmacist. In 1899 he immigrated to South Africa in search of work. He contracted malaria and after the Anglo-Boer War he returned to Holland. He returned to South Africa and became a teacher. Catootje's mother died when she was 16 years old, leaving 5 children. Catootje helped raise her siblings, and married at the age of 26.

Maria Margaretha BOOYSEN of Huis Hermon in Pretoria North celebrated her 100th birthday on 07 June 2012. She was one of 11 children. Maria has eight children, 26 grandchildren, 58 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren. She was married to Henry BOOYSEN for 43 years. He passed away in the 1970s.

Joey SCHUTTE celebrated her 102nd birthday on 17 June 2012 at Huis Herfsblaar in Queenswood, Pretoria, together with her three children and friends. Joey moved to the retirement home 23 years ago, after the death of her husband Hannes. Her son-in-law is Prof. Alex VISSER (66 years old), married to her daughter Trippie (also 66). Joey has 11 siblings and grew up on a farm outside Potchefstroom. They went to school on a donkey cart. After her marriage, she ran a needlework store in Heidelberg, Transvaal, selling curtains and bed linen. She has 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

100 YEARS OLD

The SOUTHEY family gathered at Hoekwil, near George, earlier this month for the celebration of the 100th birthday of Ruth SOUTHEY, daughter-in-law of the late Fred SOUTHEY of Hillmoor, Steynsburg. The almost 100 guests were mostly descendants of Fred and his first wife, Louise WATERMEYER, and his second wife, Kate ANDERSON. He had six children and 23 grandchildren, all of whom attended school in Queenstown. Some of his great-grandchildren were also at boarding school in Queenstown.

The celebration was arranged by Ruth's daughters, Marylyn and Jeanette. Her sons Jocelyn, Christopher and Timothy were also there. Grandson Richard SOUTHEY came from Melbourne, Australia. The birthday cake was made by granddaughter, Lee-Anne LESLIE.

Ruth was born in Greytown on 09 September 1908. Her father died when she was two years old, and her mother later married Bill BALLENDEN, a civil engineer with the Railways. He designed the bridge between the Wilderness and George. Ruth studied land surveying at Cape Town Training College (now UCT). In 1930 she married Lance SOUTHEY and they farmed near Hillmoor. They had six children. Ruth lives with her eldest daughter, Marylyn and her husband Derek DAMANT. Ruth's sister, Christine BALLENDEN from Montague (age 93) was also at the celebration. Christine was a Sister Tutor at the Frontier Hospital. Another sister, Peggy, passed away in Hermanus a year ago at the age of 89. Christine’s twin brother, Kit, died in Burma during World War II. He was an officer in the Engineering Corps and saved his men when he tried to detonate a bomb. He was posthumously awarded the Military Cross. Ruth was a butterfly collector and has a butterfly named after her. Her butterfly collection is in the Queenstown Museum.

CENTURY CLUB - celebrating long lives

Piet SCHOLTZ of Zeerust turned 102 on 4 January 2008 at the local retirement home. The party was attended by four generations, including his eldest great-great-grandson, Coenraad BOSHOFF (13), and two daughters, Ralie LE GRANGE (74) and Elsa GROVE (71). He grew up on his father's ostrich farm in near Aberdeen. Piet served six years in the military and was a cook during WWII. He also looked after Gen. Jan SMUTS in Irene.

Alice GROBLER of Mokopane (previously Potgietersrus) turned 102 on 12 January 2008 at the Piet Potgieter Monument retirement home, where she is the oldest resident. Her only child, Francois, who lives in Soekmekaar, was in attendance. She has one grandchild and two great-grandchildren. Her husband, also Francois, died many years ago. Alice was born in Pretoria and lived there for many years after marriage. She moved into the retirement home in November 2003, moving there from a retirement home in Modjadjiskloof (Duiwelskloof). Alice is a keen reader, reading three books per week.

Philip RABINOWITZ celebrated his 104th birthday on 16 Februray 2008 in Hout Bay. He was born in Keidan, Lithuania, and was the world record holder for his age group in the 100 metres and 200m sprints. Four generations of relatives were at the birthday party. His great-niece, Lisa SHANKMAN, attended with her infant daughter, Gabriella. Philip was an avid walker who still walked two or three kilometres per day. He passed away on 29 Feb at home in Hout Bay. His funeral service was held in Pinelands. Shortly before his death, he was helping his daughter, Joyce KRUGER, with her business bookkeeping.

Magdel PRETORIUS from Grootvlei, north of Pretoria, celebrated her 100th birthday in March 2007. She shared the special day with her grandson Hennie who turned 16 on the same day. Amongst the birthday visitors were her friends Bob and Becky STEKETEE from the USA. Magdel was born on a farm near Middelburg in Mpumalanga, and grew up in Standerton. She was the oldest child and had two brothers and a sister. In 1944 she married MC. He died in 1995 at the age of 80. Magdel has one son, also MC. She was a volunteer in the South African Air Force.

Louis Jacobus BOTHA, who turned 100 on 10 April 2006, passed away on 26 October 2007. At the age of 99 he was still playing bowls for the Warmbaths Bowling Club. His funeral service was on 1 November at the NG Kerk Moedergemeente. He was buried at Koedoeskop, near Bela Bela (previously Warmbaths). Louis was born in the Transvaal. He was a transport rider, taking the first explosives to the mines in Thabazimbi by ox-wagon. From 1944 to 1967 he lived near Northam. In 1969 he settled in Warmbaths. He loved boxing and bowling. He was survived by his wife Fransie; one child, Louis jnr. and his daughter-in-law Nellie, who retired to Jeffrey's Bay but moved to Nylstroom in 2002 to be nearer to Louis snr.; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Sukrani SINGH was born in India and came to South Africa as a young child. She celebrated her 110th birthday on 16 April 2007, in Pietermaritzburg. Her South African identity book shows her birth date as 16 April 1904 but her daughter, Savathrie NRGHIN, said that was an estimated date. According to a now-deceased brother, Sukrani was born in 1897.

Hazel Dorrington WHEALS was born in May 1906 in Richmond, Natal. She was the youngest of five children born to Rev. UNDERWOOD (Wesleyan minister) and his wife who descended from 1820 Settlers. Her father died when she was six years old. Hazel grew up in Fort Beaufort where her elder brothers ran the first garage in the town. She attended school in Grahamstown and later worked as a nurse in King William’s Town before marrying. She retired to Kenton-on-Sea and moved to East London at the age of 80 to live with her daughter, Betty FERGUSON. Hazel later moved into Langham House and then Kennersley Park. Hazel outlived her daughter Betty and her elder son Michael. She has another daughter, Rosemary, and 12 great-grandchildren. On her 100th birthday she received a special visit from Makhaya NTINI, the South African cricketer.

Bettie VOSLOO was born in May 1907 on the farm Groot Rietvlei, in the Swaershoek ward of Cradock district. In 1922 she entered Hoër Meisieskool Rocklands in Cradock as a standard 7 student. The school merged with Hoër Seunskool in 1972 and became Hoërskool Cradock. Betty boarded at the school and would go home for the holidays by horse-drawn cart. In 1923 she wrote the government exams, coming top of the class and beating 54 students and winning £120. Betty matriculated in 1925 and trained as a teacher in Cradock. She married Isak ZIETSMAN, from Onderplaas in Humansdorp. They lived at Onderplaas until 1992 before moving to Ons Tuiste in Humansdorp. Isak died in 1999 at the age of 90. The couple had four daughters. Betty has 13 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. For her 100th birthday, Betty was spoilt by Hoërskool Cradock’s old students association as the school’s oldest living former student.

Willie KOK of the Moria retirement home in Krugersdorp celebrated his 100th birthday on 22 May 2007. He was born on the farm Doornfontein. He lived on the farm Deelkraal in Fochville with his wife Martie. Their only son, Gert, and his wife Malie, later helped with the farming. His second wife died nine years after their wedding day.

Annie (Nonnie) WINTERBACH celebrated her 107th birthday on 3 June 2007. She lives in Durbanville with her youngest son Desmond (72) and his wife Perla. Annie grew up in Tulbagh and later moved to Cape Town where she married and had four sons. She lived through the Anglo-Boer War and two world wars. She sold furniture door-to-door and bought her first car in 1941. Her husband died in the early 1980s.

Rachel LAMINIE of Knysna celebrated her 114th birthday on 11 October 2007, with a party at the Josafat Church in Parkdene, George. Rachel was born in Langkloof, one of 16 children, of which eight have already died. One of her younger sisters is 105 and Rachel's oldest daughter is 80. Rachel's husband, Klaas, died in 1972. Her youngest daughter Ada looks after her at her house in the Buffelsnek Forest Station, the same house where Rachel's 12 children were born. Rachel was born in 1893 in Langkloof.

Lucy GROENEWALD celebrated her 100th birthday on 14 October 2006 in Nelspruit. She was born in Lichtenburg, grand-daughter of Cmdt. Hendrik VERMAAS, who according to Lucy fired the first shot of the Anglo-Boer War. At the age of 23, she married Robey, a wealthy maize farmer. He died in 1951.

Catharina Johanna (Katie) MEYER of the SAVF retirement home in Witbank, celebrated her 102nd birthday on 1 November 1998. She was born in Natal while her family was trekking. Katie’s father was Jan Adriaan DE LANGE and her grandfather was the Voortrekker Commandant and son-in-law of Piet RETIEF, Hans Dons DE LANGE. Durig the Anglo-Boer War, her family was put in a concentration camp near Durban, where her two brothers and her father died. After the war, Katie and her mother moved to the farm Boesmanskrans, where they lived with her grandparents in tents while the burnt down farm house was re-built. A school was built on the farm and the children were taught by “Kruppel Jan” LE ROUX. Katie became a shorthand typist and worked for an attorney in Pretoria. She married Jan Adriaan VENTER, a machinist with the Railways. They had three children: Meraai (died in 1996), Jannie (79 in 1998) and Clifford (61 in 1998). After Jan’s death, Katie married Theodorus Johannes MEYER, a geologist who worked for Louis LUYT. He died in the 1970s.

Suzie HUGO of Ottosdal celebrated her 100th birthday on 5 November 2007. She was born on the wine farm Fairview near Paarl, that belonged to her father. It was her father who introduced goats to Fairview. In 1943 Suzie married Boet HUGO and they had three children. Boet died in 1973. Suzie has four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. In 1998 she helped with the restoration of the Fairview farmstead. She still helped her son Francois and his wife Maggie, with their dairy farm, in her early 90s. Suzie was well known for her boererate (Boer folk remedies) and was credited with saving the life of Nico JORDAAN, who still lives in the Ottosdal area, when he was a young child and had croup.

Two nuns at Emmaus Convent in Cambridge, East London celebrated their 100th birthdays last year - Sister Serena on 13 October and Sister Bertrand on 27 November. They are originally from Germany. Sister Bertrand entered the convent when she was 18. She is one of 15 children and followed in an older sister's footsteps. She arrived in South Africa in 1928 and worked in Johannesburg, King William's Town and Queenstown. In 1960 she visited her family in Germany.

Tertia FLEMMING of Pretoria celebrated her 100th birthday on 5 December 2007. She lived in Bloemfontein for many years, and was on the executive of the Oranje-vrouevereniging (OVV) where she did welfare work. Her interest in welfare comes from the days when she boarded with an aunt, Maria KLOPPERS, who ran the Maria Kloppers Children's Home in Johannesburg. She was born in Robertson and matriculated from Hoërskool Helpmekaar in Johannesburg. After school, Tertia enrolled at Potchefstrooms Onderwyskollege in 1926. In 1929 she joined the Suid-Afrikaanse Vrouefederasie (SAVDF). In 1945 she moved with her husband, Reverand H.C.J. FLEMMING, to Natal, where she joined the Natalse Christelike Vrouevereniging (NCVV). The couple moved to Bloemfontein in 1954 where the Reverand became the minister of NGK Bloemheuwel. Flemmingpark, a housing estate for senior citizens in Brandwag, Bloemfontein, is named after her. tertia was also involved in setting up nursery schools in Bloemfontein - Rooikappie and Tinktinkieland. The Mooihawe retirement home in Bloemfontein was also one of her projects. In 1953 she received an international award for her welfare work. In 1987 she was a recipient of the Order for Meritorius Service, presented by the then State President, P.W. BOTHA. Tertia has lived at a retirement home in Pretoria for the past 17 years, and was until recently still active in the SA Vrouefederasie in Pretoria. Reverand FLEMMING died in 1977. They had two children. After his death, most of their large book collection was donated to the University of the Free State. When Tertia left Bloemfontein in 1990, she donated most of her books to the same university. She has eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Josie NEL of Greytown turned 100 years old in December 2007. She was married to Phillip NEL, who captained the 1937 Springbok rugby team. He played in 16 Tests and was captain in 8. His first Test was in 1928 against New Zealand, and his first captaincy was in 1933 against Australia. Josie received a visit from Jacob ZUMA, ANC president, on her birthday. She speaks Zulu. Her daughter is Jeanne JENNINGS.

Diena HERMAANS of Helenvale is 104 years old. Her youngest child, Pieter, was born on Christmas Day in 1956 in Jansenville. Diena had 12 children. Pieter is married to Denise.

CENTURY CLUB - celebrating long lives

Piet SCHOLTZ celebrated his 101st birthday on the 4th Jan 2007 at the Suid-Afrikaanse Vrouefederasie retirement home in Zeerust. He was married to Christina for more than 60 years before she passed away. They had five children, all still living. He has 16 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren. During WWII he was a cook, and in later years was he served in the Police Force.

Naas BOTHA of Brakpan celebrated his 101st birthday on the 7th Feb 2007. He was born on the farm Bloemendal near Nigel. In 1933 he moved to Brakpan, by ox-wagon. He has lived in the same house in Gardner Avenue for 32 years. His wife, Hettie, died 14 years ago.

Morris (Morrie) CANIN celebrated his 100th birthday on the 18th Feb 2007 at his home in Morningside, Sandton. He is married to Mildred (88). Morris was born in Porterville and has been married to Mildred, a painter, for 68 years. They have three sons and five grandchildren. During WWI he was in Manchester, visiting relatives with his mother. He attended Parktown Boys' High and was cricket captain in 1924. By WWII he owned a melamine manufacturing company. Later he bought a farm near Kempton Park, where he grew flowers for export. The couple started a farm school, the Bluegirls Water School, for farm children.

Katriena PYLLET celebrated her 104th birthday on the 20th Feb 2007. She was born on a farm near Klipplaat in the Karoo, one of three daughters. Both her husbands pre-deceased her, with the second one, Frank, dying at age 101. Katriena lives with her daughter-in-law, Georgina, in Rosedale, Uitenhage. She has four children, five grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

Bessie DU TOIT of Strydenburg celebrated her 100th birthday on the 23rd Feb 2007 at the Aandblom retirement home. She has four children, 13 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. One of her grandchildren is Lize BEEKMAN, daughter of Elza, and an Afrikaans singer and songwriter. Bessie is also the oldest living former pupil of the Hoërskool Hopetown, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2004.

Helen COOPER of Bloemfontein celebrated her 100th birthday on the 4th Mar 2007. She was born in Lydenburg and attended school Collegiate Girls’ School in Port Elizabeth. She later worked as a personal assistant at The Friend newspaper. Helen was married to Errol Gordon COOPER who founded E.G. Cooper & Sons. During his career Errol had dealings with Nelson MANDELA and Oliver TAMBO, and Mr. MANDELA sent Helen a letter of congratulations on her birthday. Helen and Errol had one daughter, Lesly (married to COHN) and two sons, Peter (73) who lives in St. Francis Bay, and Brian (60) who lives in Bloemfontein. There are also six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Dawie WARMENHOVEN celebrated his 104th birthday on the 18th Mar 2007 at the Westerbloem retirement home in Bloemfontein. He was born in Klerksdorp, one of six children. His father died when he was seven years old, and at the age of 17 he started working at Barclays Bank. When he was 25, the bank sent him to England for three years. He married Marthie VAN NIEKERK from Fauresmith when he was 32. She was a teacher at Eunice Girls’ High in Bloemfontein. The couple lived in Bloemfontein since 1955 and did not have children. Marthie died at the age of 96 in Oct 2003 after a hip replacement operation in the Bloemfontein Medi Clinic. She was very involved with child welfare issues in Bloemfontein.

Mertie VAN DER WESTHUIZEN celebrated her 100th birthday on the 26th Apr 2005 at Huis Ametis in the Strand. She was born in Rouxville. After Matric she went to Normaal Onderwyskollege in Bloemfontein where she qualified as a primary school and music teacher. Her first teaching post was in Wepener, where in 1928, she married Andries VAN DER WESTHUIZEN. The couple moved to Kimberley in 1945. They had a son, Pieter. In 1977 the family moved to the Strand, living at the Seemeeu apartments for 15 years. Andries died in 1994, five months before his 100th birthday. Mertie has two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Hannie CLAASEN celebrated her 100th birthday in June 2005 in Paarl. She was born in Victoria West. She moved to Cape Town where she became a teacher. She was fondly known as Juffrou Claasie. She never married and moved to Paarl to live with her sister. She was one of the first residents of the Huis Vergenoegd retirement home.

Margaret (Maggie) TOWILL celebrated her 100th birthday on the 15th July 2005 at Jafta, The Hill, Johannesburg. She never married. She was born in 1905 in Hammersmith, England. At the age of three years, her family moved to South Africa. She worked as a typist at Park Station in Johannesburg.

Alida Magdalena (Alie) VAN ROOYEN celebrated her 100th birthday on the 30th Nov 2005 at Silwerkruin retirement home in Wellington. She was born in the Vanwyksvlei district, the youngest of six children born to Willem and Johanna AVENANT. On the 19th Dec 1932 she married Boet VAN ROOYEN, a teacher who mostly taught in Prince Albert. He died in 1985. They had two children, Johannes (married to Linda) and Naomi (married to Alex). Johannes was a Consul-General in the USA, Canada and England, before settling in Pretoria. Naomi became a lecturer in Wellington. Alida also has eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Netta DU TOIT celebrated her 102nd birthday on the 28th Oct 2004 at Serenitas retirement home in the Strand. She was born a THEUNISSEN on the farm Vergelegen in Somerset West. Quite a creative person, she later gave music lessons in Somerset West and the Strand. In 1931 she married Petrus DU TOIT, a manager with Standard Bank. They later settled in the Strand. Petrus died in 1978. They had one child, Reinette (married DE VILLIERS), who became a writer. Netta has four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. The grandchildren, Zaresa BOSMAN, Antoinette RYPSTRA and Talitha MEYER, are all artists.

Magdalena Christina (Maggie) MARAIS celebrated her 103rd birthday on the 25th Aug 1993 at the Huis Pam Brink retirement home in the Strand. She was born ROOS on the farm Rozenhof near Stellenbosch on the 25th August 1890. At the age of 16 she moved to Stellenbosch to become a teacher. She taught at De Doorns and Darling. Maggie married Johannes Petrus Albertus MARAIS, a farmer from the farm Bergsig in Jonkershoek. They did not have children. He died at the age of 74 and Maggie moved to the Oranje Private Hotel in the Strand in October 1970. She died at the age of 103 years and 7 months in April 1994. Maggie’s brother, Tielman Johannes ROOS, died at the age of 98 in March 1993 in Somerset West. He was a widower and lived at Herfsjare. He was survived by four sons: Schoeman (Somerset West), Francois, Tielman and Wilhelm (all of Strand), a daughter, Anna (Boksburg), seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Bettie DU TOIT celebrated her 104th birthday on the 14th Feb 1992 at Moria retirement home in Krugersdorp. She was born in Zeerust. Her husband, Jan, died in 1980 at the age of 93. The couple had five children, of whom two were still living in 1992.