“Being the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, this is a program through we are sending a message and key to that message is that, we want to have a healthy nation. We are promoting that people must move and through that movement you get the desire to get to into sports,” said Deputy Director General – Corporate Services of Department of Sports, Arts and Culture – Mandisa Tshikwatamba.

Plus-size activist Connie Mofokeng shared how she keeps fit and urged people to stop body shaming.

” Today I learned more about how to take care of my body. I exercise by taking walks, skipping and drinking lots of water. As a full figured woman, I say no to body shaming. Body shamers need to stop being judges of how people should look.”

Part of the programme included Break-away sessions which saw the women dissecting topics of: GBVF In The Fitness Space, Monetizing Fitness Passion, Obesity and Culture aswell as Obesity and Mental Health. The sessions were led by panelists: Dr Bridgette Goieieman, Mpumi Manyisi, Dikeledi Seleka and Dr Thabang Molefe.

“The participants were keen and interactive. There was different types of women from all walks of life, so we got different perspectives from different women based on their experiences and they were open and willing to share their own experiences,” said Dr Goieieman.