By Christina Gallagher
At 131 years old Moloko Temo can be forgiven for not remembering when her children were born or when she was married. But ask what her favourite sweet is and she will say loudly: "XXX mints!"
The mints swish between Temo's three remaining teeth as she poses for a camera she cannot see. It has been 54 years since her eyesight failed, but her hearing and speech are still going strong. So is her sense of humour.
"If you are far away I can't hear you, but if you are close I can hear. But don't shout!" she says.
'I never went to school because there was no school then' If Temo was born in 1874 she is almost certainly the oldest person in the world. But so far The Guinness Book of Records has yet to recognise her status. According to the book, the world's oldest person is a a mere 115-year-old Dutchwoman.
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In 1988 Temo received an identity book from the Department of Home Affairs that says her year of birth had been determined by piecing together what she told them was happening when she was a child. Specifically, she gave the disused name of a hospital near her home.
She celebrates her birthday on July 4, a date decided by people in the community who say it was befitting to honour her on US Independence Day since she would now have the freedom to celebrate a birthday.
Home affairs says that people without proper identity documents require a certificate from the department of health to determine their age.
It is 9am. Temo gets herself out of bed and crawls on her hands and knees down a dark hallway to the lounge. It is a brisk morning and, with no electricity for the past two weeks, there is little to keep her warm as she sits on the cold concrete floor waiting for someone to bring her porridge.
'I don't believe I am the oldest person in the world' Four months ago Temo fell off the front step of her house while walking with the aid of her cane.
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