Johannesburg twins Dora Uys and Ethel Nembula will be among the world’s oldest twins when they turn 100 on Wednesday.
Dora’s daughter Joyce Uys said about 150 family members will be gathering in Riverlea next weekend to celebrate the twins’ birthday, and a church service will be held in their honour on Wednesday.
Joyce said the twins were born in Inanda in KwaZulu-Natal. They were educated in Mariannhill, with Dora becoming a teacher and Ethel a nurse.
Dora, who now lives in Riverlea, has four daughters — her son has passed away. Ethel, who lives in Dube, has two daughters. They have over a dozen grandchildren between them and many great- and great-great-grandchildren.
They even have ”great-great-great grandchildren”, said Uys, and the ”huge” family is scattered all over the world.
She said her mother’s life lesson was always about the importance of education. When the family lived on a farm in Zululand, she ensured that young people who came to work as labourers went to school as well.
On Monday, City of Johannesburg manager Edwin Dacom said the city will also host a birthday ceremony for the twins. — Sapa