Gugulethu Sports Complex was packed to the rafters on Friday 28 October when senior citizens celebrated a cultural day.
The event, which was organised by the Ikamva Labantu, coincided with the non-governmental organisation’s (NGO) 59th anniversary.
The NGO aims to empower people from disadvantaged communities in the metro with a special focus on early childhood development, well being of senior citizens and after school initiatives.
At least 21 senior clubs, with more than 800 members, attended the event. The clubs came from areas such as Gugulethu, Nyanga, Philippi, Khayelitsha, Langa, Delft, Kuils River, Fish Hoek and Mfuleni among others.
The seniors wore traditional attire in line with the theme for the day Buyelembo.
The event coordinator Nonzukiso Madikane described the celebration as an annual event.
She said the aim is to bring all the senior club members under one roof to mingle.
“We also want them to be happy and forget about their stresses and problems from home,” she said.
The members are aged 60 and above.
According to Madikane, the seniors conduct a series of activities including beadwork, sewing, exercising, story sharing and book readings books to keep them active.
Masincediswe senior club member Ntombizanele Jozane (71) from the H section in Khayelitsha thanked NGO for hosting the event.
“To us, this is not just an event, but a place to relieve ourselves from all the burdens. This is a social gathering for us. We can chat and share our problems,” she said.
Jozane urged other elders to join the clubs instead of staying at home. She said they are visited by social workers every month.
“We are no longer going to the clinics to fetch the treatment. Our treatment is brought to us by the nurses. Masincediswe is our second home,” she said.