RETIRED NURSE CELEBRATES HER 100th BIRTHDAY
Family and friends gather to pay tribute to centenarian. “She’s strict, but behind it all there is a lot of love.”
A 100-year-old woman in Healdtown, Fort Beaufort, thanked God for her long life as she celebrated the rare milestone on Tuesday.
Ntombizodwa Betrice Nyati marked her birthday with family and friends in a centenary celebration held at her home.
The retired nurse said she had lived to see a lot of things and thanked God for her long life.
“There is a vast difference between the days when we were children and the children of today. We were grounded in church and education, but things are different nowadays.
“God has blessed me with many years, I am happy that I have made it this far,” she said.
“I believe if you trust God everything will turn out well, I have seen God’s beauty to this day.
“I’m dancing to the tune of [His] music as we speak; God has given me strength.”
Nyati never had children of her own but said she had been blessed with many nephews and nieces whom she regarded as her own.
Her nephew Thembisile Bangani said: “She became our mother, she guided us spiritually and emotionally, she is very straightforward and she has taught us a lot”.
Unathi Boco added: “She has always been firm in teaching us about respect and prioritising education, she always used to say that despite our past she wanted black people to put an effort into education.
“She is humble and strict by nature but behind it all there is a lot of love.
“We’re overjoyed as a family for her milestone, she has always been strict about God and education and she has taught us a lot on respect and humility,” said Lunga Boco.