Senior citizens compete in National Golden Games
Mapitso Mtshali from Spruitview could not finish the race as she sustained an injury on her knee during the race.
The Department of Social Development (DSD) resumed the National Golden Games after a two-year break due to the pandemic.
At least eight provinces participated between December 5 and 7 at the Germiston Stadium under the theme ‘Contribution and Resilience of Older Persons in a Changing World.’
The provinces included the hosts Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape, North West, Limpopo, Free State Kwa Zulu-Natal and Northern Cape.
Their programme commenced with the National Older Persons’ Dialogue followed by various sporting activities ranging from soccer for both men and women, athletics, duck walking, brisk walk, ring the stick and others.
According to the DSD spokesperson Lumka Oliphant, DSD in partnership with the Departments of Health, Sports and Recreation and the South African Older Persons Forum introduced the active ageing programme to transform the ageing experience.
It also aims to empower senior citizens to stay active and engaged and continue to enjoy a healthy and purposeful life.
“The three-day programme brought 1 500 older persons across the country under the auspices of the South African Older Persons Forum to focus on matters affecting them such as dementia and Alzheimer,” said Oliphant in a media statement.
She said it took place within the context of the 16 Days Of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign.
“The programme focused on the abuse and exploitation of older persons, with the view to strengthen caring families and communities in which older persons can age gracefully.”
Despite abuse being such a widespread concern, it did not dominate the national discourse the way it should, until recently when the issue came to light during the recent second Presidential Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, she explained.
December 7, the last day of the programme, closed off with aerobics, running, brisk walking, relay and football and the presence of government officials, including the MEC of Sports in Limpopo Nakedi Kekana and Minister of the Department of Social Development, Lindiwe Zulu.
The members of the Pull Together Senior group from Spruitview performed well. One of their members Lindiwe Hlatshwayo (65) won a duck walk, representing Gauteng, on December 6.
Hlatshwayo said she only joined the Golden Games this year and over time she had to learn and understand how the games are played.
“I retired in June from my job as a teacher. I gym every morning for an hour. I won at the regional, provincial and national stages. I was doing a duck walk, which is 50m. My greatest record is 30 seconds but this time I finished in 39 seconds,” she said.
Another member who reached the national stage of the competition is Mapitso Mtshali.
She could not complete her 100m race for the over 70-aged, as she sustained a knee injury during the race.
Quincy Letsowalo (57), a sports official from Mopane District municipality in Limpopo, said they arrived in Gauteng on Sunday and were enjoying their stay.
He said the games are going great and they are proud of their performance, citing that they are going head-on with KwaZulu-Natal.
