How wonderful that South Africa has a 109-year-old in our midst? That is Mrs Ellen Makhoba’s story being told today – but she is not the oldest person alive.
According to the Gerontology Research Group, an organization of researchers who verify and record the status of super centenarians, the oldest person – also a woman – is Lucile Randon from France. Randon turned 118 years old on February 11 last year.
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MaMakhoba was born in 1914, the year of World War I, and was in his 20s when World War II broke out. He was 12 when Queen Elizabeth was born, four when Nelson Mandela was born, 50 when he was imprisoned and was there to see him out of prison 27 years later.
MaMakhoba witnessed the institutionalization of apartheid and lived longer. They are the same age as Maserati, the Italian luxury vehicle manufacturer, and Speedo, known for its swimming trunks, founded in Australia by Scottish emigrant Alexander MacRae.
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She celebrated her milestone yesterday, surrounded by loved ones, including her grandchildren. Happy birthday, MaMakhoba.