Fredie Blom celebrated his 115th birthday on the 8th of May, but he thinks he looks 44. As the oldest man in South Africa, Fredie has a great sense of humour.
Delft, Cape Town – Fredie Blom turned 115 on Election Day this year. While all the buzz was around the election, Fredie and his wife of 43 years celebrated his birthday.
Fredie is a hilarious guy when he was visited by News24 he had everyone laughing at his jokes. He was born in Adelaide in the Eastern Cape on May 8, 1904. When he was old enough, he left the Eastern Cape and moved to Cape Town in search of work.
According to Fredie, he thinks he looks great for his age; he says he looks a cool 44 in comparison to his 115 years. He also joked saying “if wisdom comes with age, he could be the wisest person in the world“.
After his move to Cape Town, Fredie lived on the streets for a while as he struggled to work. Eventually, he managed to find work on a farm in Phillipi. He picked carrots and potatoes and while he didn’t earn much, he felt rich.
“Eventually I found work on a vegetable farm in Philippi. I picked everything from carrots to potatoes and spinach. I earned two shillings a day. I had nothing before, so to me I was rich,”
After working on vegetable farms for years, he moved over to a nearby chicken farm where he counted eggs and fed chickens. He stayed at the farm until he was asked to retire at the age of 80.
“There, I worked until they told me I could work no more. I gave my best years and was very happy there – I fed the chickens and counted the eggs.
“I worked until I was in my 80s and the farmer said it was time for me to retire. I was sad when I left because it meant there was no salary left for me to earn. No provision was made for my retirement. I thought that family would take care of me – I had worked for three generations, from the oupa to the grandson.”
As Fredie didn’t have a pension to draw from his wife asked him to collect a government one. He was too proud to do so, but she convinced him it was the best thing for the family.
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“He wanted to work and earn his money, but I pestered him until he gave in. He still doesn’t want to accept that he is old, let alone the oldest man in the world.” – Jeanette Blom
Fredie and his wife Jeanette have been together for 43 years. They met at a dance all those years ago and have been together ever since. Jeanette confirmed that Fredie was a brilliant dancer back in his day, he quipped that he was a professional and missed dancing today. He said his legs don’t work like they used to.
Despite his age, Fredie refuses to go to the doctor. He says he never enjoys it and the blood pressure machine hurts him. He says the nurses always moan at him for his high blood pressure and he doesn’t want to be moaned at. He says he is as fit as a fiddle because he doesn’t need glasses or walking aid. He loves his tobacco and says an Eno and Disprin a day keep the doctor away.
Jeanette had two children from her previous marriage and Fredie has never had any children, but he says her children are his own. He has grandchildren are what keeps him young.
“I live for their little ones, my grandchildren. They keep me young,”
Fredie isn’t just South Africa’s oldest man; he is also the oldest man in the world according to the Western Cape Social Development MEC. They mentioned the fact at his 114th birthday and that the Guinness World Records have been notified so hopefully soon he will be globally recognised.
When asked what he wants for his big birthday, Jeanette said a new flat screen TV for his soapies is all he needs. The community celebrated his birthday on Thursday at their local civic centre.
“I think I have everything I need, but a TV that doesn’t snow up would nogal be nice.”
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