THE SECOND oldest man in the world attributed the secret to a long life to one simple thing.
At 111 years old, Ben Ngemani Mabuza attributes a “simple diet” to a long and healthy life.
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According to his official identity card, Ben was born in 1913.
Speaking to What’s the Press, he said: “Every day I eat porridge, meat and morogo, a wild type of African spinach.
“I know my plants.
“And when I’m tending to my vegetables, everyone who passes by stops to say hello.”
Known as ‘Grandfather Ben’, he lives in the village of Silobela, on the outskirts of Carolina, in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
He continued: “I grew up on a farm,
“I had to work in the fields from a young age.”
His long life meant that the supercentenarian had to say goodbye to 10 out of 12 children and he has been a widower for years.
However, he was blessed with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
He currently lives with two of his granddaughters, Neliswe, 44, and Makhosazane, 27.
He said: “Too many to count.
“There must have been about 40 of them.
“There are also a lot of great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.”
Despite his advanced age, Ben is in good health.
He said: “I have never been admitted to hospital for a serious illness.
“It’s just my legs that are a little troublesome.”
Ben isn’t the only family member blessed with good genes; His younger brother is 99 years old.
Last year, the city threw a big party to celebrate its 110 years of life.
Ben added: “It was a Cool party.
“There was even a band.”
Ben’s granddaughter Makhosazane said: “Maybe he can make it to Guinness Book of world records – but for the city it doesn’t really matter.
“He’s already a legend and that’s all that really matters.”
He could soon become a Guinness World Record contender.
The oldest people in the world
Edie Ceccarelli – Born in California on February 5, 1908, he was the first of seven children of Italian immigrants Agostino and Maria Recagno. He is currently 116 years old.
Tomika Itooka – Born on May 23, 1908, in the city of Osaka, she is the oldest validated person living in Japan. She is currently 115 years old.
Inah Canabarro Lucas – Born on June 8, 1908, she is the oldest person currently living in Latin America. Having become a nun in the 1920s, she is also the oldest person in this profession. She is currently 115 years old.
Juan Vicente Pérez Mora – Born on May 27, 1909, he holds the coveted title of oldest living man in the world. He has held the title since January 18, 2022. He is currently 114 years old.
Elizabeth Francisco – Born on July 25, 1909, he is the oldest known person in the state of Texas. Francisco has three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. He is currently 114 years old.
Ethel Caterham – Born on August 21, 1909, she is the oldest person to live in the United Kingdom and spent more than 50 years living in Surrey, England. She is currently 114 years old.
Okagi Hayashi – Born on September 2, 1909, he is the fourth oldest living person in Japan. Hayashi had 8 children, 22 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren. He is currently 114 years old.
Pearl Berg – Born on October 1, 1909, Pearl Berg is the second oldest known living person in the U.S. state of California, as well as the oldest known living Jewish person. He is currently 114 years old.
Tane Matsubara – Born on October 15, she is the oldest known living resident of Hokkaido Prefecture. Currently 114 years old.
Previously, the title of oldest man in the world belonged to Juan Vicente Pérez of Venezuela, who was 114 years old when he died in April this year.
The current record holder for the oldest man in the world is British John Alfred Tinniswood, who was born in August 1912 and will soon turn 112 years old.
The British supercentenarian lives in a care home in Southport, Merseyside, and attributes his long life to fish and chips on Fridays.
When the Second World War veteran was asked what his secret was, John, who lives at The Hollies care home, said: “Moderation in all things and move on.
“Sitting in a chair all day is not good.”
The current record holder for the longest living person in the world is held by great-grandmother Maria Branyas, aged 117.
Born on March 4, 1907, in San Francisco, her grandmother has lived in Catalonia, Spain, since she was eight years old – and has been in the same nursing home for 23 years.
Maria lived through the 1918 pandemic, the two world wars and the Spanish civil war
He married a Catalan doctor named Joan Moret in 1931, with whom he had three children.
While her husband passed away in 1976, Maria survived her only son, August, who died in a tragic tractor accident at the age of 86.
She now has two daughters, 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
People who lived the longest in history
THE oldest people in the world are all women and come from different parts of the world.
- Jeanne Calment França 122 years 164 days died in 1997
- Kane Tanaka 119 107 days Japan died in 2022
- Sarah Knauss USA 119 97 days died in 1999
- Lucile Randon França 118 340 days died in January 2023
- Nabi Tajima Japan 117 280 days died in 2018
- Marie-Louise Meilleur Canada 117 230 days died in 1998
- Violet Brown Jamaica 117 189 days died in 2017
- Emma Morano Italy 117 137 days died in 1899
- Chiyo Miyako Japan 117 81 days died in July 2018
- Delphia Welford USA 117 66 days died in 1992
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
