Health and fitness programme hosted in Birchleigh
“The plan is to work with more community members like Sebolelo Tlhako in other places like Esther Park, Chloorkop and Thembisa to establish free aerobics classes that will be open to the community."
The Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation and Ekurhuleni Sports and Recreation partnered with Golden Classics to promote healthy lifestyles in the community of Ward 91 on January 27.
The event held at Capello Birchleigh North saw various fitness clubs, such as the Ward 91 Classics, Phenomenal Fitness and Somabhebeza Club, attend.
The event encouraged the community of Ward 91 to participate in sports because they improve health. The event also touched on various social ills in communities.
Ward 91 Classics Sebolelo and Tshepo Tlhako ,Trevor Mahlangu (Capello Birchleigh North)
“We aim to promote the aerobics classes in Ward 91 across all communities and age groups to keep them off the streets,” said community member Sebolelo Tlhako.
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“A healthy mind is forever proactive. Together, we can unite, and divided, we fall. The class brings togetherness, and we network and share business ideas. A community that cares for another one heads for greatness.”
Tebogo Matlaba, from the Gauteng department, said every year, the department hosts an aerobics marathon in partnership with the CoE.
She said the event in Birchleigh was a build-up to the main event at Mehlareng Stadium on February 3.
“We support the Ward 91 Golden Classics, which have classes every Tuesday and Thursday at the Birchleigh Hall from 07:30. We are still working on including Saturday classes.
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“The plan is to work with more community members like Sebolelo Tlhako in other places like Esther Park, Chloorkop and Thembisa to establish free aerobics classes that will be open to the community,” Matlaba added.
Matlaba said the aerobics classes in Birchleigh North benefit the Golden Classics and provide an opportunity for young people to participate in sports, too.
“Sports are proven to be one way to address social ills. Therefore, the classes will help young people deal with issues of mental health, drug abuse and teenage pregnancy.
“It is often said ‘health is wealth’, and these classes assist the community in improving their health.
“One of our mandates is taking care of senior citizens by ensuring we do programmes for them.
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“We not only partner with the Golden Classic on sports, we take care of all the elderly residents in the east corridor, too.
“We have centres we work with, such as the Centre for the Aged in Phomolong, Esleen Park, and Ethafeni, to mention a few.
“The department is pushing for elderly residents to participate in sports because most struggle with their health.
“Sports are proven to reduce illness and improve health, so it is a mandate from the department to ensure the senior citizens participate in sporting programmes,” she said.
