Oom Willie’s pearls of wisdom for fellow South Africans

OOM Willie’s pearls of wisdom to his fellow countrymen and women as he celebrates his centenary are for people to learn how to love and respect each other unconditionally.

According to him, people should always offer help whenever they can.

Willem “Willie” Smit, born on June 10, 1921 in the then Witwatersrand district near Boksburg, celebrates his 100th birthday today at the Ons Tuis Riviera old-age home in Capital Park, Pretoria.

As the middle child of six siblings, three of whom are still alive, Smit fondly recalled how he and his siblings had to walk a distance to get to school, most of the time with him having to carry his younger sister, Hanna, on his back as she was the smallest and “often the one who got tired quickly”.

Speaking of his life’s journey and making it to a golden age few reach, Smit detailed how the toughest time of his life was during the World War II when he struggled to find a job.

“It took me some time to get on my feet, but I eventually started my trade at Simmer & Jack and worked on the goldfields at Welkom until my forties,” he said.

His highlight and “most joyous years”, as he refers to them, were with his beloved family in the Highveld where he farmed with sheep and cattle.

He and his wife, Henriëtte, were also blessed with three daughters and one son, seven grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and one great-greatgrandchild.

Smit and his wife then retired to Hartenbos for a few years before they eventually relocated to Pretoria.

Commenting on the state of the country in years gone by, Smit praised the investment made in educating South

Africa’s youth as the most progress he has seen over his lifetime.

“I grew up in a time when there was a huge shortage of craftsman, men who could meaningfully work with their hands, such as fitters and turners. Because way back then we had to start encouraging the young boys to learn practical skills as well as attaining an academic qualification.

“By steadily motivating the youth in this direction, South Africa has bridged this gap and people started seizing it as a career which I believe is remarkable.”

As his birthday wish for people as he turned 100 years old, Smit urged everyone to love one another, because he said: “If you cannot go to heaven you are in trouble!”

“I have experienced a life filled with sadness, happiness and joy. Above all, the grace and blessing of the Lord have been my compass for the past 100 years, therefore my wish for them as I am still alive is for people to learn how to love and respect each other unconditionally, and to always offer help, however small, whenever they can.”