Ntsako Mabunda
LIMPOPO – MEMBERS of the police’s criminal record centre from the Giyani, Tzaneen and Phalaborwa branches, as well as the department of social development dedicated their 67 Minutes for Mandela to the Giyani Society for the Care of the Aged on July 18.
There was food aplenty, all prepared by the members of the criminal record centre and the senior residents enjoyed a day filled with warm conversations. The society is an organisation that empowers citizens over the age of 60 with life skills and recreational activities. Some of these activities include beadwork and farming, where elderly residents come twice a week to tend their own portion of land. They are able to take the produce home or sell it for a profit. The residents also partake in sporting activities and field trips and they recently went to Durban.
“Today has been a special day. We’re very grateful to the criminal record centre and department of social development for celebrating the birthday of the old man with us. We feel honoured to be recognised as senior citizens that have organised themselves and are united,” said George Maswanganyi, chairperson of the Giyani Society for the Care of the Aged .
Members of the criminal record centre urged young people to draw nearer to the elderly and ask them to share their wisdom. He further urged guests to imitate Madiba’s lack of greed and selfishness. The society’s choir entertained guests with songs they had composed about Madiba, as well as traditional dances in their Xibelanis (Xitsonga traditional attire).
