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SONIA MOLEMA

Granny Stephina Madigwe could be the world’s oldest living person. The Soshanguve, Tshwane, super-granny turns 121 on August 10.

Born in 1887, Madigwe is still going strong and has lived through and remembers many historical events.

She has 48 grandchildren from her 12 children, 125 great-grandchildren and has outlived seven of her offspring.

She is older than Edna Parker of the US who turned 115 last month. Parker is recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest known living person.

But local community development worker Lesiba Seakamela (32) is hoping to get Madigwe recognised as the oldest.

“I will do everything in my power to see her name in the Guinness Book of World Records,” says Seakamela.

He says he met Madigwe last September and was surprised to meet someone her age. “It is a blessing from God to live until that age.”

The longest documented lifespan is that of Jeanne Calment of France (1875-1997), who lived to be 122 years and 164 days old.

Madigwe’s youngest daughter, Christinah (64), says her mother is fond of reminiscing about the past and that her favourite meal is pap and vegetables. “She would tell us stories of World Wars I and II.”

Last year, in an interview with City Press, Madigwe said: “God gave me a long life because I didn’t only show respect to my family, but to strangers too.”

President Thabo Mbeki and first lady Zanele sent Madigwe a gift for her birthday last year.

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