Fredie Blom A long-lived man from South Africa Date of Birth: 08.05.1904 Country: South Africa

1. The Oldest Man in South Africa
2. A Stubborn Habit
3. A Remarkable Longevity
4. A Local Celebrity
5. Family Support
6. Proof of Age
7. A Long and Eventful Life
8. The Impact of Crime
9. Apartheid and Politics
10. Current Lifestyle

The Oldest Man in South Africa

Frederick Blom, a 115-year-old resident of Capetown, South Africa, has expressed his desire to quit smoking. As one of the world's longest-living individuals, Blom has worked on a farm and in construction during his life, even during the period of apartheid in South Africa.

A Stubborn Habit

Despite having given up alcohol long ago, Blom has struggled to overcome his addiction to tobacco. He still smokes two to three hand-rolled cigarettes daily. "I still smoke two to three fine cigarettes every day," Blom said, who rolls his own cigarettes using newspaper. "I use my own tobacco and do not smoke commercial cigarettes."

Blom attributes his inability to quit to the devil's influence. "The desire to smoke is just too strong. Sometimes I tell myself I will stop, but I am only lying to myself. My lungs crave the smoke, and I almost involuntarily roll the next one."

A Remarkable Longevity

Despite his smoking habit, Blom appears remarkably healthy for his age. He is tall and well-postured, moving around steadily but slowly. Apart from hearing problems, Blom does not have any major health issues. The former farm laborer, who turned 114 on May 8, 2018, is believed to be the oldest living person in the world but is yet to be officially verified by the Guinness World Records. The previous record holder, Violet Moss-Brown of Jamaica, passed away on September 15, 2017, at the age of 117.

Blom, with his unkempt mustache and gray beard, cannot pinpoint the reason for his longevity. "I can't tell you anything except that man walks by the grace of God," Blom explained. "All the strength belongs to the Lord, I have nothing. I can fall any second, but He keeps me." "I feel very good. I am okay. I have a strong heart, only my legs are giving in. I can't walk like I used to."

A Local Celebrity

Blom has become a local celebrity, with people from residents to provincial ministers visiting him. He welcomes everyone to his modest Cape Town home. Blom appreciates the attention he receives. For his birthday, he was presented with large celebratory cakes by a local grocery store and the provincial Department of Social Development.

Family Support

Blom's wife, Jeanette, is 29 years his junior, and they have been married for 48 years. She described her husband as having always been healthy and has only been to the hospital once, many years ago, for a problem with his knee. Jeanette acknowledged that her husband's age had been questioned initially.

"There were questions when Freddie applied for an identity document a few years ago," she said. "His niece travelled to East London to get his birth certificate. The certificate helped prove that my husband is not lying."

Proof of Age

According to Sihle Ngobese, spokesperson for the Western Cape Department of Social Development, the fact that Blom was issued an identity document with a birthdate of May 8, 1904, is considered valid proof of his age.

A Long and Eventful Life

As a young man, Blom left his birthplace in Adelaide, a small settlement in the Eastern Cape Province, and traveled to Cape Town, the vibrant metropolis of South Africa. Blom never attended school and is unable to read or write.

When asked about a childhood highlight, the 114-year-old's eyes sparkled as he recounted, "I would wake up in the morning and immediately run outside to the wilderness. I used a slingshot to hunt small birds. I would look at the trophies on my belt and feel proud."

Blom initially worked as a farmer before joining a company that installed precast concrete walls. "We traveled all over Cape Town installing precast walls," Blom said. "I worked for that company for a long time until I retired in my early 70s."

The Impact of Crime

Living in a gang-ridden and crime-ridden area like Delft has had an impact on Blom. He stated that the increase in criminal activity had been the most shocking development in his lifetime. "Life was quiet in the past," Blom said. "Those were good times. There were no killings, no robberies. Nobody suffered, nothing like that." "You could leave your bed for the whole day. You wake up, and all your belongings are still there. But now, everything has changed."

Apartheid and Politics

Regarding the past politics of racial segregation, Blom said he paid little attention to it. "I worked on a farm, so I had no time for anything else. We only heard about the politics." It was not uncommon for farm laborers and manual workers to have such an apolitical outlook. Many, like Blom, were illiterate and lived relatively isolated lives.

Current Lifestyle

According to Jeanette, Blom has no special diet today. He prefers to have meat in every meal, but the Cape Town patriarch never neglects vegetables. Blom can still wash and dress himself, although putting on his shoes has become more of a challenge lately. Sometimes, he seeks assistance from his grandson when he needs to shave.

For many years, Blom would wake up at 4:30 am, but nowadays he gets up much later and does less around the house. "I can't do anything anymore," he lamented. "I can't climb a ladder anymore. I just sit around. The television is full of nonsense that I don't want to watch." Blom can often be seen outside his home, rolling another cigarette and giving in to the devil's temptation once again.