GOGO Mazulu Florina Nkanyane serves as a guiding light and teacher for her family.
The 92-year-old gogo has become a source of wisdom for her kids.
Over the next coming weeks, Daily Sun will shine the spotlight on the incredible elders SunReaders nominated for our Gogo and Mkhulu of the Year Competition. The two winners, who stand a chance to win R5 000 and amazing prizes, will be awarded in July 2025.
They will celebrate their victory with the Daily Sun team during a special Mandela Day event.
These are inspiring elderly men and women who have touched lives, shared wisdom and stood as pillars of strength in their communities.
Gogo Mazulu was born and bred on Stelrous Farm in Winburg, Free State.
Her childhood dream to become a teacher remained unfulfilled because her parents couldn't afford to support her education. This led to her dropping out of school in standard 4 (grade 6).
Despite the setback, gogo Mazulu refused to let her dreams fade.
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Although she couldn't become a formal teacher, she poured her heart into teaching her kids valuable life lessons and guiding them with wisdom and love.
She became a teacher who shaped the minds and characters of her kids and gave them the best possible start in life.
"I instilled discipline in my kids by teaching them to be home by 6pm every day. I also emphasised the importance of waiting until marriage before starting a family.
"To ensure they understood the value of good behaviour, I used the strategy of setting clear expectations, whether I was present or not, to guide them towards making responsible choices," she said.
Gogo was married to mkhulu MJ, and they have five kids together - two boys and three girls. Mkhulu passed away in 1996, just a year after they had settled in Makeleketla township in Winburg.
"One of my sons, who worked for the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, tragically passed away alongside his wife. I immediately stepped in as a mother to their children, along with my other grandchildren.
"They grew up under my care and I'm proud to say that the values and lessons I taught them stuck. As evidence of their success, they've even built a house where I now live. It's a blessing to see my family thrive," said gogo.
