Alexandra’s oldest living person, Johannes Mdelwa Nkosi, will celebrate his 104th birthday at a lavish ceremony at the Thusong Youth Centre on 22 January.
Born in Emangwaneni, Bergville in KwaZulu-Natal on 22 January, 1910 Nkosi first came to Johannesburg in 1931 and lived in Orlando East before moving to Bloemfontein in 1957.
A year later, Nkosi moved to Alexandra and lived at Pan which now houses Alexandra’s top shopping mall.
In 1960, he shared a yard with the late, great Nelson Mandela when the ANC leader first came to Johannesburg after absconding from Eastern Cape. A few years later, Nkosi moved to his present day address on the corner of 11th Avenue and Josias Madzunya Street.
Asked about his recipe for longevity, Nkosi answered that abstaining from fatty foods and western beer did the trick. The only beer he drinks is the traditional brew of umqombothi, he eats a lot of vegetables and is fond of black rooibos tea.
Nkosi, currently lives with his 65-year-old retired son-in-law, Thabiso Ishmael Mokoena. Mokoena is married to Nkosi and his wife’s only child, Tholakele Martha Mokoena. His late wife, Nomahashi Johanna Nkosi (nee Mkhwanazi) was born in Vryheid on 22 January, 1899. Nomahashi, who shared the same day and month birthday as her husband, died in 2008 aged 107.
Interestingly, Tholakele was born on 18 July, 1957 and shares her birthday with Mandela, who died on 5 December last year.
Thusong Youth Centre founder Beauty More, who has always supported Nkosi with food parcels and birthday presents over many years, in association with Alex FM, will throw a lavish party for Alexandra’s living legend on 22 January at the centre.
