‘EARTH’S OLDEST WOMAN’ THAT LIVED THROUGH 3 CENTURIES, SURVIVED GLOBAL PANDEMICS DIES AT 128

Faith Nyasuguta

A woman claimed to be the oldest in the world has died at the age of 128 in South Africa.

Johanna Mazibuko, a mother to seven, died in her home in Jouberton, North West Province, home on March 3, and would have been 129 in May according to local reports.

Those close to her claim to have ID documents that prove she was born on May 11, 1894.

They add that she grew up on a maize farm and could not read or write, having never gone to school.

Speaking to South-African news outlets, her caregiver and daughter-in-law Thandiwe Wesinyana said Mazibuko may have died from a stroke.

On her 128th, Ms Mazibuko told the outlet: “I am amazed at why I am still here after so many years. Why am I still here? People around me have been dying.”

She added: “When will I die? What’s the point of being alive? The world has tired me because I am just sitting here doing nothing.”

Mazibuko is set to be buried on Saturday in Jouberton, Klerksdorp, and was one of 12 siblings – of which now just three are still alive.

Detailing her upbringing, she previously revealed : “We lived so well on the farms. There were no problems then. I can’t remember my childhood well but I do remember a locust infestation. These were the ones we could catch and eat. It was like you are eating meat. We would just fry them and eat the like that just on their own.”

“I grew up healthy eating mostly fresh milk and wild spinach. Now I eat modern food. I am used to it but I miss the food I grew up on.”

She could not remember when she married widower Stawana Mazibuko, but said that he “made sure I did not want for anything”, and owned cows while she would make butter.

According to Daily Mail, she survived World War I and II and the only two global pandemics, Covid-19 and the Spanish Flu. Johanna was also alive during Queen Victoria’s reign in Britain, the first-ever plane and flight by the Wright brothers.