Home News City ‘ouma’ celebrates 101st birthday

City ‘ouma’ celebrates 101st birthday

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She was spoiled with gifts and a cake on the day, but due to the Covid-19 restrictions not all family members were able to join in the celebrations.

Ouma Fytjie Steenkamp celebrated her 101st birthday on Women’s Day. Pictures: Supplied

OUMA Fytjie Sophie Steenkamp from Campbell celebrated her 101st birthday on Women’s Day on Monday.

She was spoiled with gifts and a cake on the day, but due to the Covid-19 restrictions not all family members were able to join in the celebrations.

Steenkamp was born in Fonteintjie in Schmidtsdrift and was married to Jan Kok, the nephew of Adam Kok, the fourth Griqua king and leader of the Griqua people, in 1948.

Steenkamp’s nephew, Jakob Oliphant, said that during the apartheid era the Griquas were relocated from Schmidsdrift to Campbell as their homes became a South African Defence Force base.

“Ouma Fytjie remained in Campbell and raised her children there. She is not as agile as she used to be although she can still see and hear quite well,” said Oliphant.

He added that the extended family of around 200 members, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren, planned on holding a huge birthday party when she turned 100 years old last year.

“However, the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown made it impossible. This year only a few family members living in Campbell were able to spend some time with her. If by God’s grace she lives to see her 102nd birthday it will be a historic occasion,” said Oliphant.

Nephew Jakob Oliphant, Ouma Fytjie Steenkamp and Marie Kok, her daughter and caretaker.

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