A century winks in February
Segabutla credits her mother's long life to her traditional foods with no processed foods as part of her diet
HAVING lived in Kempton Park for at least a decade, one starts to learn about the city and its rich history.
When you meet someone who has lived in it for almost 10 decades, you begin to realise there is so little you know about this place.
Rosena Mojapelo of Esther Park was born on February 23, 1914 and will be celebrating her 100th birthday in February. She suffered trauma when she lost her daughter in 2010 and she has not been well, so her story is told by her eldest daughter, Selina Segabutla.
“She was born in Zebediela near Limpopo and she’s the eldest of five. She and and her younger sister, who still lives in Zebediela, are the only ones left,” said Segabutla.
When she was in her mid-thirties, she came to Johannesburg to live with her husband who worked at H Lewis & Co in Kempton Park (this is where Spartan Clinic is presently situated).
“My parents lived in Pennyline where the factory workers all lived and in 1958 they moved to Tembisa. My siblings and I were then moved with them to Sedibeng Section where we all grew up. My mom made traditional beer and opened a shebeen at home so everyone knew the Mojapelo’s house,” she recalled.
Segabutla remembers growing up in a loving home and although her mother was strict, there were some candid moments at home.
“Whenever we were in trouble we would wait until our father came home from work to avoid being hit and he would jokingly say he would send her back to Zebediela if she hit us,” she smiled.
Her family has always been her pride and joy and so when Selina’s sister passed away in 2010, it affected her really badly.
“My sister became ill in October and when she passed away a short while later, my mother did not take it well at all. She has been to several doctors and nothing seemed to work, so I eventually took her to live with me,” explained Segabutla.
Her memory was affected and she could hardly remember close family members.
“She is getting better though now and is able to remember people and can tell family members apart,” said Segabutla.
Segabutla credits her mother’s long life to her traditional foods with no processed foods as part of her diet. Her mother was also very active in her younger days which resulted in her not being lethargic in her old age.
“She walks by herself and is able to go to the nearby spaza shop to buy herself sweets – which is most likely her biggest motivation to keep walking,” she smiled.
The family plans to host a celebration for her 100th birthday next month.
