Hundreds of talented pensioners gathered at the Ekurhuleni Older Person Regional Choir Festival, hosted by the East Corridor at HH Ngakane in Kwa-Thema last Friday.

Celebrating its 19th year, the Active Ageing Programme seeks to promote the benefits of meaningful participation in physical fitness and active ageing for persons aged 60 years and above.

“The programme enables older persons to connect with their peers from across the region, forging new bonds and strengthening a nationwide network of shared experience and mutual respect.

“It also promotes healthy lifestyles with the view to creating a positive narrative about ageing as a normal developmental stage in the human life cycle, as well as promoting nation-building and social cohesion,” said Lindi Khoele, one of the East Corridor coordinators.

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A total of 15 choirs participated, including Tshepo ya Sechaba Choir from Dawn Park, Leratong Senior Citizens Choir from Kwa-Thema, and Tshwaranang Elderly Daycare Centre from Duduza.

Mzimkhulu Khumalo, chairperson of the Ekurhuleni East Older Persons Forum, said that participation is helping the choir culture in Springs to grow. He is also a member of the Qhubeka Phambili Senior Citizens Club Choir based in Wright Park.

“We already have a group from Payneville that has joined. I hope that they will soon be an independent choir,” he said.
Khumalo added that they walked away from the event with a few pointers to improve their choir.

“We are saying that people older than sixty still matter in our communities. They still have skills and talents, and that is what we want to expose.

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“The programme helps them socially so that they do not feel isolated at home. Life goes on, and they still have dreams,” said Tinyiko Shisana, one of the East Corridor coordinators.

After the regional event, some of the choirs will participate in a provincial round.

Research shows that regular physical exercise is associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases and conditions like hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and depression.

The Older Persons Act No. 13 of 2006 places emphasis on the rights of older persons, and active ageing programmes are one of its key initiatives. The programme’s first event was held in the Eastern Cape in 2009.