Aunty Doris turns 100

14 January 2025

The City’s Deputy Mayor, Alderman Eddie Andrews, along with Councillors Zahid Badroodien and Ashwin Jansen yesterday, 13 January 2025, visited Doris Barrish Johnson from Athlone to congratulate her on her centenary birthday and hear her story as a Cape Town resident.

Aunty Doris, as she is fondly known, has lived all over Cape Town. She stayed for 30 years at the Rainbow Lane Pensioners Cottage in Silvertown before moving in with her son and daughter-in-law in Athlone. Her favourite places in Cape Town include St Georges Cathedral and the Company’s Garden. She also loved taking her children to Kalk Bay beach by train and to visit Camps Bay beach.

Her children shared that she loved making rotis and taught everyone who was interested how to make them. She even sold some of her popular rotis, hanging up her apron at the age of 92. Her secret to long life is smiling every day, and doing good deeds for others. Simply put, she said: ‘Do something good for someone.’ 

Aunty Doris has two sons (one has passed away); two daughters-in-law; seven grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office