World’s ‘oldest person’ dies at age of 134
JOHANNA Rametsi lived her long life to the fullest – and is finally, as the lyrics of her favourite song go, “Ke na le modisa (I am with God)”.
Rametsi, from Stinkwater, Hammanskraal, was believed to be the oldest living person in the world at the age of 134 years. She died on May 31, a few months after she was officially handed her newly renovated home.
Jeanette Ntimbane, Rametsi’s caretaker for four years, said the song that Gogo loved to sing every day while sitting under a tree in her yard has served as a comfort to her after her death.
“She was my grandmother, my child, my teacher and everything to me. So although I am hurt that she is no longer with us today, I want to celebrate her long life, as she would have wanted.”
The woman was honoured with a memorial service in her community yesterday, where speaker after speaker marvelled at the life she had still led, despite her old age.
Ntimbane said not only would she cherish the special moments they had, but also how much Rametsi would plead with her not to cook cabbage, but prepare her meat and chips and give her a glass of coke.
“Even when she lost her eyesight, she would identify me by touching my hand and asking when I would ever put on more weight, as she said I was too skinny.
“Gogo would share stories of when she took part in the Struggle for freedom in this country; how she and many others had to travel with guns and crawl into ditches on their stomachs to escape from being caught.”
Neighbour Mariah Matloala said Rametsi kept jiving and dancing from her bed until the very end.
“She did what she could with the time she was given on this earth, and had no regrets. She worked and fulfilled her purpose, and it is now left to us to continue to make our communities better,” she said.
Captain Sarah Lesabane, from Temba police station, said she was relieved that, during the scourge of murder and domestic abuse prevailing in the community, Gogo Rametsi was spared.
“I am grateful that despite the problems in our commun- ity, we gave the jewel God lent us the respect she deserved.
“Let us use her passing as a tool to unite us as a community, to deal with all that is going wrong, because we have the strength to do it. Let’s join hands with our neighbours so we, too, can reach the age of Gogo Rametsi,” said Lesabane.
Rametsi was born on January 1, 1883, in Krugersdorp, and is survived by 16 children, 78 grandchildren and 247 great-grandchildren.
Her funeral service will be held at her home in Hammanskraal on Sunday.