A 24-year-old man has adopted a bundle of joy but she’s older than you might think.
In fact, Emma Ligwa is 101 years old but to Max Swartz, she’s the joy of his life.
The two met a year ago and Max, from Parkwood, says he has taken the ouma into his heart, especially after his mom died.
The granny celebrated her 101st birthday last Tuesday and Max took her out shopping and she also received a cake.
“I met ouma Emma last year in lockdown Level 5 when her daughter came to seek assistance from our organisation for her mother of 100 years,” explains Max.
“Even since our journey started with ouma Emma, I do weekly visits to check up on her to see if she is comfortable.
“I just want to see her happy all the time. For a person who was once a stranger, we bonded so quickly, within weeks we were attached.”
Max, who runs the Parkwood Community Upliftment Centre, has been collecting donations to renovate Emma’s home.
“My goal now is to pimp her house so she can have a nice place to live for someone her age.
“I want to transform her life as she has a special place in my heart. After my mom passed away last year, ouma Emma has been able to fill that space she left.”
Emma has a broad smile when she describes how she feels about Max.
“Hy is baie lieflik, he is very sweet, I love him, he’s a good man and he’s in my heart.
“He took me to go shopping on my birthday last Tuesday.”
The centenarian is still very active and walks without assistance.
Her granddaughter Roslind du Preez, 31, says she is very healthy: “She has never worn spectacles and she does her own washing.
“But my aunt has to bathe her as she can’t and that is the only thing she can’t do.”
The oulike ouma tells the Daily Voice she was born in Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape.
“I moved to Cape Town with my 10 children after I left my husband. I started a new life here.
“I have five children who are still alive, 28 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren,” she says proudly.
mandilakhe.tshwete@inl.co.za