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Cape Town's oldest man Fredie Blom dies from natural causes at 116. Photo: Twitter/Unknown

Home » South Africa’s Oldest Man, Oom Fredie Blom, Dies at 116

South Africa’s Oldest Man, Oom Fredie Blom, Dies at 116

South Africa’s oldest man – Fredie Blom – has passed away at the ripe old age of 116. The news was announced on Twitter by local TV personality Doreen Morris who spent time in Delft, Cape Town, with Fredie and his wife, since profiling him for a show two years ago. He died of natural […]

By Jenni Baxter
22-08-20 17:21
in Eish!
oom-fredie-blom-oldest-man-dies
Cape Town's oldest man Fredie Blom dies from natural causes at 116. Photo: Twitter/Unknown

South Africa’s oldest man – Fredie Blom – has passed away at the ripe old age of 116. The news was announced on Twitter by local TV personality Doreen Morris who spent time in Delft, Cape Town, with Fredie and his wife, since profiling him for a show two years ago. He died of natural causes.

Two years ago, Fredie made international news when he turned 114 and told the BBC that he thought it may be time to quit smoking! As it turns out Fredie continue smoking, having to struggle like many South Africans during lockdown when tobacco sales were banned.

Doreen said: “I went to the house last Saturday (remained outside) to deliver a carton of Rothmans that a kind gentleman called Franna had skarelled for him in Mossel Bay. I was so sad that he was having to decide between paying R185 for a single packet of contraband and funeral insurance.”

She said he passed away this morning at 6am and that “meeting him has enriched my life forever”. According to Doreen, Oom Fredie had been quite ill, but seemed to have rallied somewhat on Monday. “I saw him walking to the bathroom and that sight made us happy. By Thursday he said that he had had enough and was admitted. I am thankful for the love, for lessons and that the end came quickly ??”

Storyteller Earl Hendricks, who was like a son to the couple (according to Doreen), paid tribute saying: “A legend has been called home. His long journey and work here is done, but Uncle Fredie will never be forgotten. My heart is breaking for Aunty Blom right now, for his family but especially for her… the love and affection they had for each other was so beautiful to witness ❤”

Fredie Blom was possibly the oldest man in the world although he was not in the Guinness Book of Records. Despite having government ID documents that registered his birth as 1904, he didn’t have sufficient papers to prove his age to the World Record keepers (although they offered to assist in his application) and a man two years younger than him (Japan’s Masazo Nonaka) was registered as the oldest. The oldest woman – also from Japan – was 117 at the time of her death in 2018.

Fredie attributed his long life to the whim of God (and blamed his smoking on the devil!). According to USToday he worked well into his 80s.

Tributes have poured in. Delft Senior Forum chairperson, Ghadija Francis, said: “He was a very humble person, very gentle and he always liked to talk to the youth and he was very loyal to his wife and his children.”

His wife Janetta was 29 years younger than him. They were married for around half a century.

WATCH Fredie Blom – Delft on KykNET (or DStv Now)

https://twitter.com/earlcraig06/status/1297082383246786561?s=21