In 1979 a beautiful baby girl came into the world. Down the road, as the baby was giving her first screams, a 65 year old madala was eating an old man’s meal at his house.
Today, she is 37, he is 102 – and soon there could be wedding bells.
‘I plan to be with her until I die,’ said Japan Mfeka from Thokoza in Ekurhuleni. ‘I’m planning to send my family to her family for lobola negotiations.’ The two met in 2006.
He said it was love at first sight. ‘People tell me I can’t afford a young woman like this but we have been together since she was 23 and life has been sweet!’ he said. Japan, a father of four children , said he isn’t worried about the criticism from his family or the people in the township. ‘No one can separate two people who are in love. She loves me. Every time I call her to help me at my house with my cooking and washing, she gladly does everything.,’ Japan said.
He said their love is rock solid. ‘I care for her and I perform in bed. I feel like a teenager when I’m with her’ he said. He proceeded to reveal his secret herb mixture. ‘Many people think when you reach a certain age you can’t satisfy your lover., but me, I’m still strong.!’
Nhlanhla was not prepared to discuss her life before she met Japan. ‘I feel as if I have been with him forever. He looks after me so well. He does not play with women and then dump them. I will be very happy if he pays lobola’, she said.
Nhanhla said her family didn’t approve of their relationship and had told her to leave her madala. Madala’s relative, Fana Mtolo said his family had also tried to stop the relationship.
‘We even chased her away from visiting Japan they still continue their relationship.  Japan made his choice and no one could stop him so we ended up accepting it,’ Fana said