Gogo Linah celebrates 115th birthday in Duduza

“I still want to live, but I’m not scared of dying, I’ve had a long life and I thank God.”

These are the words of gogo Linah Nozililo Hlatswayo, who celebrated her 115th birthday last month and may be the oldest living person in the world.

According to Guinness World Records the oldest living person to date is a 112-year-old man from Israel.

Hlatswayo, who says she had her first child at the age of 55 years and later had four more children also claims her paternal grandfather lived pasted a 100 years.

She can still talk, walk and even cook herself a meal without the assistance of her only surviving child, Sanah Mahlaba (60), with whom she currently lives in Masechaba, in Duduza.

Born in Mpumalanga, the senior citizen says she moved to Duduza with her parents and later her own family, but never got married.

She has two grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren, who say they enjoy having her around.

Her great-granddaughter, Fihliwe Mahlaba (21), explains how pleasurable it is to hear Hlatswayo tell them stories about her life and how the world has evolved since she was a little girl.

“My great-grandmother is the most hilarious person I know, she has a sharp tongue; ready to snub anyone who wants to speak on her behalf or try to help her out when she cooks,” Fihliwe says.

“She has taught us how to cook, bake and make traditional recipes which we will forever remember.”

It’s said that the dame also enjoys a classic beef stew and fried chicken now and again.

Fihliwe adds that she enjoys snacking a lot on sweets and chocolate and that those are the things she buys every month when she receives her social grant.

“I don’t have a particular diet that I follow, I’ve always eaten like any average person so I think it’s God’s gift that my family have good genes and we may live so long,” says the grand old dame.