Tafta’s centenarians honoured in Women’s Month
Elderly women like 102-year-old LIsa Majola, need support from the community, through TAFTA.
DURBAN has it’s fair share of centenarians, three of them are currently residents at Tafta. The women, all of whom are older than 100 were honoured during the Women’s Month celebrations..
Gogo Lisa Majola is 102 and was a toddler when World War One broke out. Although she remembers little of her early years in Kranskop, she speaks affectionately of her husband, the one and only man in her life. She has survived four of her five children. Gogo Lisa has spent 10 years in the Assisted Living Unit at TAFTA’s Ilungelo Labadala.
Other residents who have lived through a century of world events include Maria Stander from Tafta On Ridge, who is 102 and Molly Usher from Outspan, who is 100. Roberta Stubbs passed away last week at 101.
“Like all the residents, it’s hard to imagine how these women would cope without the help and support they gets from the caring staff there. Thanks to our supporters, they are safe, looked after and eat regular meals. There’s an endless need for this type of care, so if the community can help a little more we’d be very happy,” said CEO, Margie Smith.
As an occasional treat Gogo Lisa enjoys a plate of well-cooked meat and some ‘imifino’, the traditional spinach-type leafy vegetable.
What keeps her going? Walking daily and attending church regularly are the highlights of her existence. Her advice to women everywhere is to work hard and strive to be independent.
“As we celebrate Women’s month, please spare a moment to think about us and the valuable work we do for women who have no-one to care for them, who could not cope on their own, who have no home but with us,” said Margie.
Contact TAFTA on 031 332 3721.
