Moloko Temo

Moloko Temo
Born	July 4, 1874? Limpopo, South African Republic
Died	June 3, 2009 (aged &10000000000000134000000134 years, &10000000000000334000000334 days?)
Residence	South Africa
Known for	Claiming to be one of the world's oldest people

"Koko" Moloko Temo (July 4, 1874? - June 3, 2009)^[1][2][3] was a South African woman who claimed to be the oldest living person in the world at 134 years of age. She claimed an age at least six years older than that of any other living claimant,^[4] but her claim has never been verified by Guinness World Records.

As reported by ITN's Martin Geissler for ITV News, Temo claimed she was born on July 4, 1874, making her 134 years old.^{[Need quotation to verify]} Official records were not kept at that time.^{[citation needed]} Her claim is documented by a government passport identity document issued to her in 1988, according to the Afrikaans-language Beeld Daily, based on testimonials by family members.^{[Need quotation to verify]} The age claimed may have been a guess.^{[citation needed]}

Blind since the 1950s, she lived in Limpopo Province, South Africa,^[5] with a daughter reportedly now aged over 90.^{[citation needed]} She was survived by another daughter (Evelyn) and 29 grandchildren,^[3] and also had 59 great-grandchildren and at least 5 great-great-grandchildren.^[5] Her longevity did not seem to be a result of a healthy diet: her favorite foods were spinach, meat, sweets, and Coca-Cola.^[6] Temo said the secret to being the "oldest person in history" is a "trust in God and respect for your parents".^{[citation needed]}

Her youngest daughter, Evelyn Mothemane (Evelen Temo), was 78 when her mother celebrated her 132nd birthday, meaning she was apparently born when her mother was 53 or 54.^[5] Temo's apparent explanation for this was that it was common for women to have children later in life.^[7]

Despite media claims to the contrary, Guinness World Records has given no indication that they plan to accept this claim, citing lack of evidence and extreme unlikelihood.^{[citation needed]}

At the celebration of her claimed 134th birthday, it was announced that there would be further attempts to get Temo's age verified.^{[by whom?][8]}

She died of natural causes on June 2 or 3, 2009, at the claimed age of 134. Only two months earlier, on April 22, she had voted in the general elections.^[3]

See also

• Longevity claims
• Longevity traditions
• Supercentenarian

External links

"YouTube, 134 Year Old Woman In South Africa". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT0KC6rhF_s. 

References

1. ^ "'World's oldest woman' dies". The Telegraph. 5 June 2009. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/5451473/Worlds-oldest-woman-dies.html. Retrieved 1 March 2011. 
2. ^ Mapoyna, Frank (2009-06-05). "Oldest person dies at 134". Sowetan. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} Sapa (2009-06-04). "SA's oldest woman dies". iAfrica. 
4. ^ "Photo from Reuters Pictures - News, Photos, topics and quotes". http://www.daylife.com/photo/0b30eTYffv6Ce. 
5. ^ ^{a b c} Louw, Marietie (2006-07-06). "SA great-great-gran turns 132". News 24. http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1963583,00.html. Retrieved 2009-06-07. 
6. ^ "'World's' Oldest woman dies.". Telegraph. 2009-06-05. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/southafrica/5451473/Worlds-oldest-woman-dies.html. Retrieved 2010-02-21. 
7. ^ "Is Moloko the world's oldest person?". http://www.instablogs.com/outer_permalink.php?p=moloko-temo-the-end-of-epoch. 
8. ^ Sowetan:Bid to have ‘oldest granny’ recognised

Persondata
Name	Temo, Moloko
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1874-7-4?
Place of birth	Limpopo, South African Republic
Date of death	2009-6-2?
Place of death