Griet Messelaar, who celebrated her 104th birthday on 1 January, is a living legend in the Griqua community.
Ma Griet, as she is called, was born in 1920 at Griquatown as the second eldest child of six of Paul and Bettie Visser. She is the only one remaining.
In 1950 she married the late Isak Babetjie Messelaar, a Griqua leader at Campbell. Nine children were born out of this union. Her husband passed away in 1971 and Ma Griet had to raise her children as a single parent.
She can still remember the different wars and how badly they were treated during Apartheid.
With the help of her knowledge, the Messelaar family could claim the land they lost during 1948.
She initially started with the making of Griqua arts and crafts as an income, but also helped with the writing of the books Forgotten but not buried and Griqua Culture and Superstitions written by Aaron Martin William Messelaar, her second youngest child.
Ma Griet lost two of her sons due to Covid in less than five months from each other.
Her milestone of 104 years was celebrated on 6 January in Pescodia, Kimberley, which was a joyous occasion for family and friends.
At her age, she can still walk and do things for herself, and she has no sickness such as blood pressure or diabetes. She can even still remember the day in 1995 when former Pres. Nelson Mandela arrived with a helicopter in Griquatown.
When asked what the secret is to living so long, her reply was to respect and honour your parents, says her son Aaron.
