A MBEKWENI resident, Seleku James Xontana, celebrated his 101st birthday on Monday in good health.
Xontana, who lives in a shack in Drommedaris, says his birthday wish is to receive his own house. He has been on the municipal housing waiting list since 1992.
Xontana was born in Idutywa, Eastern Cape and settled in Paarl with his wife in 1964. He worked at the Sasko factory for years, and later worked on a dairy farm.
Xontana has three children, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
He lives alone in a shack, but is cared for by his daughter Lulu and his son Makatini, who live nearby.
Xontana is still very active and prefers to do all his own chores, although his daughter occasionally helps with the cooking.
He is still very healthy and does not use any kind of medication, but enjoys a drink of traditional African beer.
He keeps busy by gathering food from the community and as part of his exercise, walks to the pig sties on Vlakkeland farm to feed the pigs.
Lulu describes her father as “a kind, good man who has always been a hard worker”.
