Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu on Tuesday joined the elderly for the National Golden Games held at the Germiston Stadium.
This is a flagship programme of the Department of Social Development, hosted annually in partnership with the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation and the South African Older Persons Forum.
It aims to promote active ageing, healthy lifestyle and social integration among elderly people.
In her keynote address to open the games, Zulu greeted all provinces in attendance and stated the programme was the epitome of success and represented older persons in their active years of ageing.
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“The most important message that I would like to send to everybody, including the officials from all the provinces, is we have the most important citizens of our country who came to one place to share ideas and how they maintain a healthy lifestyle daily.
“We are happy that social grants are making a difference in the livelihood of our senior citizens. They do not only support their grandchildren with that money, but it is evident that they eat well and healthy also,” said Zulu.
“We thank you for taking care of your families and we call on the Almighty for protection, especially when we are going for Christmas festivities.”
The elderly joined in song and dance as they participated in sporting codes such as rugby ball throw, pass and kick the ball, duck walk athletics, and soccer for both men and women.
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