‘World’s oldest person’ celebrates her ‘118th birthday’ surrounded by family at South African care home

A South African woman celebrated her ‘118th birthday’ today as one of the oldest people in the world with a small party at her care home.

Margaret Maritz joined other residents, carers and two of her daughters for celebrations at the home in Touws River, 110 miles northeast of Cape Town.

She was born on September 27, 1906, according to a copy of her identity card.

The document has not been independently verified but if confirmed would make Maritz the world’s oldest living person.

The current record-holder is Japanese national Tomiko Itooka who was born on May 23, 1908.

Alongside two of her 14 children, Maritz blew out a candle on a large pink birthday cake at the party in the small town of Touws River.

‘She talks about her life as a young woman, (saying) you must respect your mother and your father,’ a senior nurse at the home, Gregory Elroy Adams, told AFP.

‘She didn’t drink, she didn’t smoke.’

‘We must be grateful,’ said one of her daughters, Liza Daniels, 67.

‘I don’t know if I will reach that age one day. 

‘But for me it’s a very, very big privilege to have a mother that reaches this age.’

Mrs Martiz, known affectionately as ‘Ouma Honderd’ (Grandma Hundred), reportedly cannot recall some of her earlier memories as she has mild dementia.

Michael Fortuin, the manager of her care home, said her wider family are planning to visit her on Sunday.

‘Sadly Ouma cannot recognise people anymore and complains about arthritis pain in her arms and legs, and requires assistance to walk, but she is always laughing and very talkative,’ he told TimesLIVE.

He added that the Gift of the Givers Foundation, a South African NGO, will provide a special lunch residents at the care home and hand out presents for all.

Akila holiday resort will also donate a cake and Coca Cola were said to be donating drinks for Mrs Martiz. 

According to the Guinness World Records website, the oldest verified person is French national Jeanne Calment, who died in August 1997 at the age of 122 years and 164 days.

‘Several people have been claimed to be older than Jeanne, but there has never been enough evidence to authenticate them,’ it says.

The oldest known South African died in March 2023 just two months before turning 129.

Johanna Mazibuko was born on May 11, 1894 according to her identity papers, although these were not confirmed as authentic by authorities.

Officially, the world’s oldest person is Japan’s Tomiko Itooka.

Mrs Itooka was born on May 23, 1908.

On Septemebr 16, celebrated as Respect for the Aged Day in Japan, the Guinness World Records presented Mrs Itooka with a certificate of authentication.

Hitoshi Kai, her son, shared fond memories of visiting temples with his mother, according to the GWR.

He said she was very independent and enjoyed walking to the seaside and hiking through the mountains alone.

Mrs Itooka was born in Osaka during the Meiji period, and was 32 when Japan entered World War II.

At 100, she climbed the stone steps of Ashiya Shrine without the aid of a walking stick.