Gogo Sanah (100) committed her youth to the liberation struggle
'She does not behave her age. She is funny. She cracks jokes. It is nice to be in her company.'
One of the oldest community members in Kathorus celebrated her 100th birthday on September 28.
A special celebration was held in Siluma View, Katlehong on October 6.
Gogo Sanah Modise (100) was born on September 28, 1918.
Her birthday celebration was organised by members of the ANC Women’s League and the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco), both of Ward 101.
Sanah believes none of the born-free will reach her age.
“I am not God, but the way the youth of today handle themselves I don’t see them reaching even the age of 80. “What makes some of us reach the age of 100 is because we abstained, and took time to indulge in sex.
“Once we started to have sex, we did not change partners like underwear, or have sex with different partners,” said Sanah.
She added: “The food the young people eat nowadays is unlike the kind of food we ate in our youth. Young people today are very soft and vulnerable to diseases.”
Sanah had three sons who died.
She said her oldest son died at the tender age of seven and could not remember the year in which he died.
But her second born was killed during the difficult political era in which hostel inmates had running battles with township residents in 1991.
“My third born was killed in 2005 during a robbery on his way back from work. I think it was people he knew her well because as soon as they realised he identified them, they decided to kill him,” Sanah told Kathorus MAIL.
His three sons collectively gave birth to 11 grandchildren.
With a fading memory, Sanah said some of her grandchildren died at a young age, and did not recall all the details. Some died before they had their own children. Some have their own children and gave her seven great-grandchildren.
In her house in Siluma View, she stays with four great-grandchildren. Three of them are still of school going age.
Her great-grandchild, Xolisile, believes her Sanah is the nicest person to live with.
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“She is loved by the community,” said Xolisile.
Sanco head of education and ANC Women’s League chairperson Sassy Ntshalintshali said they are lucky to have someone as old as Sanah in the ward.
“When we grew up she was an active member of uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the ANC military wing during the liberation struggle years.
“She was involved in community activities until she was unable to walk on her own. We had to help the family to organise her birthday party because we felt obliged to thank her for everything she did for the community while she was still active,” said Ntshalintshali.
A family friend, Nthati Maleka, said Sanah is the funniest grandmother she ever met.
“She does not behave her age. She is funny. She cracks jokes. It is nice to be in her company,” said Maleka.
On her birthday, former members of MK gave her an award to thank her for her contribution to the liberation struggle against apartheid.
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