BARBERTON – Some people have labelled this town the capital city of booze as it is allegedly believed that people in this area are more prone to alcohol abuse than any other area.
This publication learnt that out of this bad publicity, two pensioners have proved that once you dedicate your life to the Almighty God, you can conquer the world.
Recently Gogo Julia Mandonsela left many residents in shock when she turned 105 years old, still strong and healthy in stark contrast to the stigma attached to this town.
This publication visited Mandonsela’s family where they shared her secret.
“Fearing God can make you live longer, you can even celebrate 105 years like me or even more than that, all it takes is to love God with all your heart.
“During my youth, I never took or tasted booze and cigarettes. I eat healthy food such as vegetables and I don’t take any special medication for example like high blood or diabetes.
“Although I’m in a wheelchair, I am healthy and I thank God for blessing me with many more years,” said Gogo Julia.
Mpumalanga News learnt that she was blessed with 12 children and two of them had passed on. One of her children,
Ms Esther Ndlovu said,
“We are truly blessed to have her as a mother. Sometimes she doesn’t remember us since her memory is not stable due to her age. I salute her a lot as we still run to her seeking advice. She is our pillar of strength.
“She taught us a lot of things that can help us to become better people. One of those is being God-fearing people. It is customary for us to gather for prayer from 05:00 each day,” she explained.
Gogo Julia was active in politics in days gone by. She said that when she heard people talking about Mandela Month, the only thing that came to her mind was the day when he gave her a membership card for the ANC.
Another pensioner, Gogo Ida Ndlovu, who is 100 years old, advised young people, especially girls, to love and respect themselves.
“It’s very painful to see young people indulging in substance abuse and girls chasing after boys. I was a very decent lady who respected myself and was focused in life.
“If you indulge in alcohol, chances of living longer in life are very slim. It doesn’t matter where you come from. I was born and bred here, but I have managed to survive all the challenges that are destroying the future of our children and most of the young people don’t reach my age,” she concluded.
