Despite being 106 years old, granny Njakanjaka Masonto of Dzingidzingi Village, near Giyani, is still going strongly. Mirror paid a visit to the old lady to share some of her memories and the secrets behind her long life.

According to her official ID, Njakanjaka was born on 18 January, 1900. Although she walks with the aid of a walking stick, she is still strong and hopes to celebrate more birthdays. Her deteriorating eyesight is nothing to go by because her strong hearing system and razorsharp mind keep her days enjoyable like other young members of the community.

“I was born at Mhlava village, near Tzaneen. My father, Ridonga, and mother, Nyathela, died many years ago. I am the last-born girl of three kids in the family. I can’t remember when my brothers, Munyamani and Mzamani, died because it was long ago…” Njakanjaka and her late husband, Masonto, had five children and only two, Magezi (74) and Patron (49), are still alive.

Her first-born child was born in 1927, when she was 27 years old and her last-born daughter was born in 1957. She is presently staying with her second-born son, Magezi. She has 29 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

She remembers the old days: “We used to stay in makeshift thatched huts and there were no houses like what you are seeing today. There were no schools, clinics, hospitals and roads. We used to travel for long distances on foot because there were no cars. The elders made animal skins for us to wear because there were no clothes then. The elders spent most of their time tilling the land for food and young boys and girls like us were responsible for looking after the goats. We drew water from fountains unlike what we do today from taps…”

She says of the Second World War: “Girls and children were not allowed to take part in the war and only men were forcefully taken to the war. Most of our relatives went to the war and never came back…” She said the first car came to her village when she was a teenager. “We were fetching some firewood when we heard an unusual sound. When we went to investigate, we saw something with four wheels coming in our direction. Realizing that there were people with a white skin inside, we ran for our dear lives, because we never knew that there were other people with a skin different from ours.”

Njakanjaka says the secrets of her long life is eating healthy food and listening to the elders. “I enjoyed fruit and vegetables throughout my life and I have never tasted alcohol. We spent most of the time dancing Mtshongolo and Xitzaitzai and that kept our bodies strong. There were certain taboos that the elders told us not to do, and I believe that increased the days of our lives…”

A staunch member of the Old Apostolic Church, Njakanjaka says today’s people are dying at young ages because of the food they eat and they have totally diverged from their cultural practices. “I thank God because it has never been easy for any person to see more than three generations. That is why I pray on a daily basis before I go to bed…”

Njakanjaka spends most of her time telling tales to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. “It is a pity because there is no one documenting these stories. I would like more generations to know about our times, although I believe that I will still live for many years…”

Her final advice is: “If you live a clean life like me, God will bless you and you will live long. Respect your elders and preserve your culture. Eat healthy food and distance yourself from alcohol…”

The Guinness Book of Records has finally responded to the request of Moloko Temo (132) of Mohodi Ga-Manthata village, outside Polokwane, to be recognized as the oldest person in the world - thanks to the efforts of a renowned Limpopo businessman, Tom Boya. The present records say the oldest person on earth is Maria Esther (116) de Capovilla from Ecuador.