With 105 direct descendants, KwaDukuza centenarian Subedra Mohan is a community unto herself.

The well-respected homemaker turned 100 on October 17 and celebrated the following week with 150 family and friends.

The celebrations were evidence of a life well lived, raising 11 children (four have since passed), being a grandmother to 37 (three passed), great-grandmother to 45 and great-great-grandmother to 12.

Originally from New Guelderland, Subedra was one of nine siblings born to the Haneraj family. She married Sahadev Mohan when she was 15 in 1939 and they stayed together in Amatikulu until his death in 1997.

Subedra was well known in her community for her cooking specialties of rotis, dhal-puri and mango pickle.

“She loved to go out with her late husband to the Amatikulu River on a ‘sacking’ trip to net prawns, fish and eels, if they were lucky,” said Subedra’s son, Thota.

“She toiled in the kitchen long before sunrise, in front of the fireplace with a blow-pipe to assist her along. She tended to the poultry in their large ‘fowl-run’ and to the vegetables in the garden.”

According to family members, the secret to Subedra’s longevity is a combination of hard work, a mainly vegetarian diet, good medical care and love from her family.

The latter two were particularly necessary during a cancer scare in 1963 and when Subedra contracted Covid-19 in 2021.

“In spite of this, she has aged gracefully. She is beholden to God almighty and to all those who have supported her along on this long and memorable journey,” said Thota.

“Her simplicity, humility, passion and compassion are worthy of emulation.”

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