Margaret Maritz has peacefully passed away at 118; a life truly well-lived. She was one of South Africa’s and the world’s oldest citizens!
Touws River (01 August 2025) – A quiet light has gone out in the small town of Touws River, as tributes pour in for Margaret Maritz, affectionately known as ‘Grandma Hundred’, after her passing at the incredible age of 118, making her one of the oldest known South Africans – and people – to have ever lived.
Born on 27 September 1906, Ouma Margaret lived through two world wars, the rise and fall of apartheid, and the birth of South Africa as we know it today. As one of the few supercentenarians around the globe, she kept a front row seat in witnessing a century’s worth of change — and through it all, she gracefully remained a constant beacon of peace, wisdom, and humility.
In her final years, she called the AFM Welfare’s Touws River Old Age Home her home, where she was loved by staff and fellow residents who became just like family.
“She was a very friendly, pleasant person,” says Eleanor, an AFM staff member who affectionately remembers the home’s oldest resident to date. “She always smiled. The staff adored her. They cared a lot for her and they enjoyed working with her. She never complained about anything.” said Eleanor, as per YOU.
Grandma Hundred passed on just two months before what would have been her 119th trip around the sun.
Last year, she celebrated her birthday with a pink cake, with two of her 14 children at her side, as well as a nation’s worth of birthday wishes. She made headlines across the country, which spotlighted just how extraordinary her life was – not only in years, but in meaning.
Though she had no funeral policy, her care home is now calling on the kindness of South Africans to help give her the farewell she deserves. AFM Welfare has launched a fundraising appeal to cover funeral expenses, honouring her legacy with dignity. Donations can be made by following the instructions shared in this post.
Upon her passing, Grandma Hundred will be lovingly remembered for the incredible life that she led, with her whole chest! May she rest in peace.
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