Boskruin resident Holly Naidoo noticed a gap in her community.
There was no gathering place for senior citizens in her area, so she decided to create one herself. “I decided that I’m going to do it. I’m going to start an old age senior citizens get together in this area.”

Naidoo started the Golden Years Club in 2024 with little more than an idea and a stack of pamphlets, which she left at local shops to spread the word. She booked a hall, arranged chairs and tables, and brought her own tablecloths ahead of the first meeting, not knowing whether anyone would arrive. “I actually wasn’t nervous. I just sorted everything out, and boom, everybody came.”

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Twenty three people showed up on that first day. Since then, the club has kept growing through word of mouth, as members bring along friends and neighbours. For Naidoo, the club offers far more than a way to pass the time. She believes it meets a real need among older people, many of whom feel isolated, even from their own families. “Younger people, as in our children, they listen to our stories, but they’re not really interested in listening to what we have to say. We’re just happy that we’ve got friends.”

She said many people in the suburbs barely know their neighbours, which can make everyday life lonely. The club gives its members a reason to get out of the house and spend time with people who understand what they are going through. “We enjoy the same things, we play the same games, we had the same children when we were young, all those things. We are the same ages.”

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The club keeps its members active with a steady stream of outings and events. These have included a bus trip to Emerald Casino and Resort, a best dressed competition, a best hat competition, and raffles, one of which offered a donated television as the prize. Members also took part in a group walk, where everyone received a trophy regardless of their finishing position. The club occasionally trades its usual hall for a restaurant outing, and last year’s Christmas lunch was held at a venue with a swimming pool.

Joining is straightforward. Naidoo asks that interested pensioners phone her first so she can explain how the group works, though newcomers are also free to simply arrive on the day. “I don’t turn anyone away. If you want to come and join us, you’re welcome to come and join us.”

The club’s next meeting is on July 25 at Wimpy Summer Fields, where members will enjoy a full English breakfast for R50, a special rate arranged for pensioners.

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