Spruitview elderly group holds high tea
The club can only accommodate 80 members and has reached full capacity. New members are added once existing members resign or leave the club.
Wearing elegant long dresses, blouses and embellished hats, the Spruitview elderly group Pull Together Senior Citizens (PTSC) gathered for their annual high tea event at the Spruitview Multi-Purpose Park on April 23.
In honour of the former executive committee, the executive organised the event to celebrate the club’s role and contribution over the years.
The PTSC members and special guests, namely the Ward 107 ANC Clr Thabani Moses Goje, Lorencia Mashasha and Tebogo Mogotsi, among others, attended the event.
The honoured ladies included chairperson Beauty Jele, secretary Themi Msimang, treasurer Thembi Msimang, assistant secretary Thandi Khumalo and Susan Leballo.
Chairperson Ybonne Makhubela, secretary Siphiwe Kunene, treasurer Thandi Thabethe, deputy secretary Mmokgethi Senona, deputy chairperson Tshidi Makhobo, deputy treasurer Thando Dhladhla and Nthabiseng Mareletse organised the event.
It was a joyous day when the group sang gospel tunes and handed out gifts as they took turns on the podium to share their journey with the club since its establishment in 2004.
They enjoyed tea and lunch, and once done with the programme, they turned the volume up, and the ladies took to the stage to dance and sing along to old-school and smooth jazz music.
Jele assured members that the former executive left them in good hands because they had handed the batten to a head working team dedicated and committed to seeing the group reach greater heights.
She said it was not easy when they started the group because she recalled how they struggled to access funding.
At times, their applications were rejected because they did not have enough members, but it never discouraged them.
“I have led a great team, and I love and appreciate all of them. We respected everyone who played their role. The current executives are well educated and younger, so they will introduce you to new and exciting things,” said Jele.
On the PTSC’s year plan, Kunene said since they founded the group in 2004, its constitution was never updated. They began updating it last December and issued it to members this year.
She said they developed an organised way of working because elderly people do various activities like handwork, gardening, gym and the closing party.
Outside their activities, the plan is to participate in various events like social events, Women’s Day and Heritage Day and competitions like the annual Golden Games, fun walks and choir competitions.
“We want all this to take place in an orderly manner. We divided ourselves according to those sectors and formulated mini-executive committees. Those committees were tasked to develop their year plan,” Kunene continued.
“We limit ourselves because we must balance the budget and the activities we want to enjoy. This year, we will run smoother because we have organised ourselves,” said Kunene.
