Fredie Blom, 116 according to his identity documents, was born in the Eastern Cape province in May 1904 has recently passed away.
Fredie who lost his entire family to the Spanish flu in 1918 went on to survive two world wars and the South African apartheid.
He worked most of his life as a labourer and construction worker before he finally retired in his 80s. According to Fredie, there is no secret to longevity except that God preserved him.
He was a regular drinker and smoker but recently shrank from a big ban to a small person according to a family member and eventually passed away due to natural causes.
He was described as a strong man and full of pride by Andre Naidoo, a close relation.
