The best-dressed man in Vhembe?

The 72-year-old Vhakoma Vho-Azwifarwi Thomas Tshililo must be one of the cleanest and most immaculately dressed residents in the region. Tshililo, who stays at Gondeni Sterkstroom near Malavuwe, also does his own laundry and ironing.

Better known as “Mr Clean” by the local community, Tshililo can always be seen wearing a suit, even when he goes to the local spaza shop to buy bread. He had a total of 30 suits, but he is left with only seven after his home was ransacked by thieves, who stole his clothes some years ago.

The old man, who is a role model to many, says he only wears white shirts because to him, a white shirt demonstrates cleanliness. “I don’t have any other colour of shirt besides white. I have lost count of my white shirts, but what I know is that they are more than 20. I hate dirt and I only wear a shirt once,” he said.

Tshililo said he fell in love with white shirts while he was working as a messenger in Johannesburg in his heydays. “As a messenger, I had to be presentable, and our uniforms were white shirts and black trousers. I then became so used to white shirts that I associated them with my life. Since then, I have never worn any other colour of shirt than white.”

The old man, who still proudly walks unaided, said that he took a bath two times a day. “When I wake up in the morning, I take a light walk to keep fit and then take a bath. After my daily chores of assisting the local headman, I come back home and take another full bath before I sleep. There are days which I spend at home without going anywhere, but I put on a suit and tie and relax while reading the Bible and other books.”

He explained that he washes, dries, and irons his clothes every two weeks. “At first it was difficult because my late wife used to do these chores for me. I had to do it for myself for the past 22 years because I strive for perfection. I also make sure that I polish my shoes perfectly, so that they can shine to the fullest. I only have black shoes because they symbolize dignity and responsibility. I go for white socks and never in my life have I had to wear a pair twice. I wear a pair of socks once and put it in the laundry basket for washing. The same goes for a tie. I have more than 20 ties and I only wear a tie once.”

Tshililo said that he felt that his clean life contributed to his health and long life. “Most of my peers are no longer alive, but by the grace of God, I’m still healthy and kicking. My heart bleeds for young boys and girls who look older than they are because they don’t take good care of themselves. If we all live a clean life, the world would become a better place to stay.”

Date:21 March 2021

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