WeeklySA_AdminDIGNITY: A Limpopo-born centenarian who survived war, hunger and hardship now faces her toughest battle yet — ageing without the basic support she needs…
By Keletso Mkhwanazi
At 110 years old, Violet Ramadimetsa has lived through war, hunger and profound social change — but today, her greatest challenge is far more personal: ageing with dignity.
She marked her milestone birthday on Sunday, 12 April 2026. Yet for her daughter, Elsie Maluleka (60), the celebration is tempered by a heartfelt appeal for help.
Maluleka has become far more than a daughter. She is her mother’s full-time caregiver, interpreter and constant companion — assisting with everything from meals to helping her move around safely. Now, she is calling on the community to help provide basic assistive devices, including crutches and hearing aids, to improve her mother’s quality of life.
Born in 1916 in Bohom village in Limpopo, Ramadimetsa’s life story stretches across some of the most defining moments of the 20th century.
She recalls serving as a messenger during World War II, delivering handwritten messages between command posts under dangerous conditions.
“I was a foot soldier, running under heavy fire,” she says. “I hid the messages under my clothes. It was dangerous, but we had to do it.”
She also survived a devastating locust invasion that wiped out crops and forced communities into hunger.
“We lived off trees and ate anything that was not poisonous,” she remembers. After years in Polokwane and Pretoria with her husband, she returned to Limpopo following his death in 1975, living independently for decades. “I’ve always done things for myself — cooking, cleaning, washing. I don’t like people interfering,” she says.
A sudden shift
But time has caught up with her. Earlier this year, she moved to Hammanskraal to live with her daughter after safety concerns in her community.
Her mobility has declined sharply over the past two years. She now relies on a chair or even a broomstick for balance. Her hearing has also deteriorated significantly, making communication difficult.
Despite this, she remains fiercely independent. “I exercise by going to the toilet myself. I don’t like a wheelchair — I prefer walking sticks so I can stretch my back,” she says. Maintaining her personal hygiene, she adds, is her top priority.
Secret to longevity
Ramadimetsa has far outlived South Africa’s average life expectancy for women, which stands at 69 years, according to Statistics South Africa.
Her explanation for her longevity is simple — and deeply personal.
“My secret to long life is staying pure,” she says. “After my husband died, I remained celibate. I use my own things and don’t share.” Her diet is equally strict. “I avoid salt, oil, spices and tea.
My body reacts. I prefer simple food and warm water with a bit of sugar.” She believes the natural diet of her youth also played a role.
“We ate food straight from the ground — tomatoes, potatoes, greens. Sorghum and fresh milk. Meat was only for special occasions.”
A daughter’s plea
For Maluleka, watching her mother’s decline — especially her hearing loss — has been painful.
“She used to be very talkative, always telling stories,” she says. “Now people get frustrated and raise their voices when she can’t hear. It’s heartbreaking.”
Determined to honour her mother while she is still alive, Maluleka bought her a birthday cake weeks in advance — something Ramadimetsa had never experienced before.
“My mother never celebrated her birthday,” she says. “I want people to celebrate her while she’s still here.”
But beyond celebration, she is asking for practical support. “I know she is old, but I am not ready to lose her.”
Gaps in elderly care
Her situation also highlights broader gaps in elderly care support.
The City of Tshwane says its Community and Social Development Services Department runs a “Healthy Lifestyle Programme” through non-profit organisations, focusing on physical activity, nutrition and disease awareness.
However, spokesperson Lindela Mashigo confirmed that the city does not provide assistive devices such as those needed by Ramadimetsa.
“Her case can be better handled by the Health Department, which has clinics that render rehabilitation services and offer assistive devices,” Mashigo said.
The Department of Health had not responded to queries at the time of publication.
Mashigo added that while the city does not offer home-based care services directly, it works with non-profit organisations that do.
A social worker visit has been arranged but has not yet taken place.
For now, Ramadimetsa’s care rests largely in the hands of her daughter — and the hope that someone will answer their call for help. – Healthy-e News
