Cora Louw, seated in the middle, is seen with her family and other well wishers, including mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
Huis Luckhoff resident Cora Louw celebrated her 106th birthday on Thursday last week in front of 80 guests, including family, fellow residents of the Rosebank old-age home and Cape Town mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.
Ms Louw was born in Kimberley, the daughter of a diamond buyer, Wietsche Snyman, and his wife, Johanna. She is the remaining survivor of four siblings and grew up on a farm in a world very different from today (“Cora marks 100th birthday,” Southern Suburbs Tatler, May 17, 2018).
She did nursing at Groote Schuur Hospital and married Dr Lionel Myburgh. The couple had a son, Leon, and a daughter, Zandra.
After her husband died, she moved to Durban where she worked as a florist and in real estate before returning to Cape Town.
Her great grand niece, Margi Marsland, said Ms Louw’s longevity was astounding although she had difficulty with her hearing and sight.
Mr Hill-Lewis wished Ms Louw well and gave her some flowers.
“It's so remarkable to celebrate a special and long life for someone who experienced so much of the ups and downs of the world, Cape Town and South Africa during the last century,” he said.