DENNIS Naidu is not your regular 100-year-old. He is still alert, keeps up with current affairs, stays connected to his love for music, is excellent with numbers, and has a sharp memory.

Born on May 19, 1926, Naidu was the 11th of 16 children and is now survived by only one sibling, who is 92 years old.

He has four daughters, eight grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Naidu said his father died when the children were still young, leaving his mother to raise all 16 of them.

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“I believe the challenges I faced growing up shaped me into the strong person I am today. We did not have much, and even now I still eat small portions of food. I used to exercise regularly and worked very hard,” he said.

The Wyebank resident grew up in the Indian community of Umbilo.

He remembers the 1949 riots, which resulted in 142 deaths, more than 1000 injuries, and widespread destruction of property.

Naidu said many things have changed over the years, and he is saddened by the levels of corruption, fraud, bribery, murder, rape, and robbery in society today.

“In the olden days, people could walk freely on the roads, even at night,” he said.

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He also expressed concern about grants for pensioners. “It is not enough. The economy is bad and things are very expensive nowadays,” he said.

Naidu advised young people to respect their parents and elders.
“It is very important. One must never abandon the parents who brought them into the world, educated them, cared for them, and fed them,” he said.
In his younger years, Naidu enjoyed fishing, soccer, boxing, and athletics. “Music is my favourite thing, and I still play my violin,” he said proudly.

Asked about the secret to his longevity, he simply replied: “Nothing. I just take each day as it comes.”

His wife died in 2022, and his face lights up whenever he speaks about her.

“I was introduced to her by my brother. She was much younger than me. She was beautiful, respectful, fun-loving, and full of love,” he recalled.

His favourite meal is fermented mealie meal porridge served with mint, coriander, and relish.

Known as one of the top bakers in the industry, Naidu worked at several bakeries over the years, including at Checkers St John, where he served as a manager, and at Kloof Village Mall SPAR, where he worked as a senior training manager.

“I trained people to manage other bakery stores,” he said.

For his 100th birthday celebration, Naidu plans to bake his own cake.

Apart from his career as a baker, he was also a skilled driving instructor.

@caxtonlocalmedia Wyebank’s 100-year-old violinist, Dennis Naidu – still playing, still baking, still inspiring. 🎻💯 #highwaymail #100years ♬ original sound – caxtonlocalmedia

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