A South African woman marked her 118th birthday on Friday with a small celebration at her care home, making her one of the oldest people in the world. Margaret Maritz, born on September 27, 1906, according to her identity card displayed by a charity that helped organise the event, celebrated her milestone in Touws River, a town 180 kilometres (110 miles) northeast of Cape Town.
If her age is confirmed, Maritz would surpass Japanese national Tomiko Itooka, born in May 1908, who is currently listed by the US-based Gerontology Research Group as the world’s oldest living person.
Margaret Maritz, flanked by two of her 14 children, blew out a candle on a large pink birthday cake during the festivities.
“She talks about her life as a young woman, (saying) you must respect your mother and your father. She didn’t drink, she didn’t smoke,” said Gregory Elroy Adams, a senior nurse at the home.
Liza Daniels, one of her daughters, expressed gratitude for her mother’s long life. “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.” she said.
According to Guinness World Records, the oldest verified person was Jeanne Calment of France, who passed away at 122 years and 164 days in 1997. Although claims of older individuals exist, they have not been sufficiently verified.
South Africa’s oldest known person, Johanna Mazibuko, died in March 2023, two months short of her 129th birthday, though her identity documents were never officially authenticated.