It’s one thing running into functional adults born in the 90s, but what about the other side of the spectrum?  Try get your head around the fact that Johanna Ramatse was born in 1883. That makes her older than Riaan Cruywagen. What’s more, her daughter is 91!

This, from iol:

Johanna Ramatse, who turned 130 years old in January this year, goes down in the country’s record books as the oldest person in the country.

Ramatse’s seniority is in the spotlight as South Africa celebrates International Day for the Elderly on Tuesday.

Her mother also lived well into old age, in a period when she would be covered with fresh cow dung early in the morning, the manure nourishing her muscles and allowing them to strengthen.

The cow dung would be removed when it was dry and hard, and this traditional method was used to sustain the old lady well into her golden years, Ramatse’s 91-year-old daughter Wilhelmina Phiri said.

“They have a long lifespan,” said Phiri, adding that her grandmother died only recently, and that although she had become very old, she had been in full command of her faculties.

Tough love and making the right decisions had kept her alive this far, Ramatse said.

The big question, of course, is what her lifestyle entails, with regards to food and exercise.

She has always followed a strict diet, consisting mainly of vegetables and as little meat as possible. “I will not eat pork and chicken feet, who eats those?” she asked.

She grew up eating, among other vegetables, umfino (leaves from vegetables) and imbuya (wild spinach) and said nowadays people did not like the two.

“They ask why one would eat leaves,” she said.

Her daughter said: “She has no high blood pressure, no sugar diabetes, no back pains or forgetfulness.”

Her mother had taught them not to drink or smoke, had encouraged them to go to church, avoid parties and wandering the streets as young children.

[more here]

Great – I also don’t eat chicken feet. That must be the secret?