Senior citizens hosted for breakfast to celebrate chairperson’s birthday on Mandela Day

Midrand’s New Dawn Senior Citizens (NDSC) members celebrated Mandela Day in style when they enjoyed the most important meal of the day – breakfast.

The seniors’ club enjoyed a free breakfast at Minnetonka Spur in Carlswald while celebrating chairperson Bala Govender’s 81st birthday on July 18.

Govender, who is affectionately known and addressed as Uncle Bala, said the club operates as an NGO and was founded in March 2019 in response to calls from the aged members of the Midrand and surrounding communities.

“We are grateful to Minnetonka Spur in Carlswald for hosting us as senior citizens of the community. There is no other way to celebrate my birthday than spending time with people who are always around me and who have shown me love and care.”

He said the club’s mandate was to provide a forum for senior citizens to gather with their peers and socialise.

“We are very grateful for this generous offer. They have also in the recent past been giving our members meals at discounted rates. We invite like-minded members of the public and the business sector to join us in uplifting the lives of our aged while we can.”

Govender added that with limited resources, they provide snacks and tea every Sunday afternoon at Mmimos Restaurant in Midway Mews which they use as their temporary venue.

Minnetonka Spur senior manager Sibusiso Khoza said, “We are proud to be part of Mandela Day by providing breakfast and coffee for the Midrand senior citizenship. We served senior citizens from Midrand with free breakfast and coffee.”

General manager Gift Mnguni echoes Khoza’s sentiments. “We as Minnetonka Spur staff and management were giving back to the community as part of the Mandela Day commemoration.

Related article: 

https://www.citizen.co.za/midrand-reporter/217192/senior-citizens-aim-to-inspire-change