#MamaJabulani the Secunda granny dances her way into viral status on the internet

SECUNDA – Ms Stephanie van der Walt had no idea at the time of video recording her mother (#MamaJabulani) dancing and singing while cleaning the bathroom, that it would take the internet by storm.

The video clip has been viewed more than 800 000 times since Ms Van der Walt posted it on social media. Everyone seems to enjoy the dancing – and cleaning – moves of this Secunda granny to the PJ Powers song “Jabulani”.

She has since been affectionally dubbed #MamaJabulani.

The “victim” of the video clip, Ms Sandra Nel, was initially outraged when she realised her daughter had recorded her.

“I eventually did calm down and was oblivious to the fact that Stephanie had shared it on social media. That afternoon as we were travelling to Witbank, I was scrolling on Facebook, when I saw the stir that my video was causing. I was just about to explode in anger again when I noticed how many people were enjoying it. I must admit, it feels special. I am not angry at all anymore. I think it is quite funny,” she said.

In fact, she loves the comments people have been posting. Some viewers actually thanked her for making life a little less gloomy and for putting a smile on their faces.

“If only they know how precious their comments are to me. They inspire me,” she said.

Ms Nel makes no secret that she is a loud and vocal person. When she laughs, it is at full volume. When she talks, you know she is in the room. Just follow the music.

Visitors were greeted in the driveway on Friday, 27 April with an Afrikaans song blaring from the boombox. From the wide open front door two women could be seen dancing and singing while mopping the floor and cleaning the living room. #MamaJabulani was at it again!

“Sorry, I am not all dressed and pressed, but we have to clean. The music and dancing makes the cleaning fun,” Ms Nel said. Ms Van der Walt is the other dancing cleaner. Ms Nel confessed to suffering from a mild case of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), but it has improved since becoming a grandmother.

She is nearly 48.

Also read: #MamaJabulani Video – Secunda granny’s cleaning dance takes Internet by storm

“What can I say. I started young, but I am so thankful for my kids and grandchildren.”

Ms Nel has three daughters, Stephanie (31), Sylvia (29) and Alicia who would have been 27 years old this year.

It is hard to imagine that the joyful, cleaning woman on the video suffered such a huge loss.

“I know Alicia is alive in the afterlife and so I try not to mourn without hope,” she explained.

Ms Nel fought back the tears when she recalled the death of her daughter in 2015.

Alicia and her son AJ, who was only four years old at the time, were passengers in a car involved in an accident in Kinross’ main road on 7 July 2015.

Alicia died on the scene. Both AJ’s legs were badly broken and he had to undergo surgery and learn to walk again.

The little blonde boy and his cousin, Jayden (Stephanie’s four-old son), lives with their granny and her husband, George. Ms Nel also has two other grandchildren, George (7) and Chane (4) from her daughter Sylvia.

Ms Nel is a hands-on person with diverse employment skills. She was a manager at KFC for several years before working as a welder and then as a cable repairer. Today she is a full-time grandmother who also bake cupcakes and who has an affinity for Xhosa songs.

“I understand the language. Xhosa music is very expressive and I enjoy the beat.”

Watch the Video here: