MISSING THE SUN AND BLUE SKY AT GOLDEN GAMES

By Cynthia Radebe

• Setting goals for exercise helps you to stay motivated and push yourself further, says 71-year-old Jeanette Mokgotho from Limpopo.
• She was speaking on day two of the National Active Ageing Programme taking place in the North West from 18 – 20 February 2025.
• Some of the sports events were cancelled because of the rainy weather – as the former teacher and dedicated church member said: “Life presents challenges.”

Seventy-one-year-old Jeanette Mokgotho from the Limpopo Province is one of the participants who was supposed to take part in the 100m race today, but the rain put a stop to her event.

The programme for the second day of the 19th National Active Ageing Programme, taking place in Rustenburg, North West, from 18 – 20 February 2025, was set to see the start of the Golden Games: athletics related events from aerobics and soccer to pass the ball, from the 100m walk to jukskei.

“When your goals for exercise are high, it helps you stay motivated, push yourself further, achieve greater results, and track progress more effectively by providing a clear target to work towards and a sense of accomplishment when you reach milestones,” she said, disappointed by the muddy conditions.

However, as a former teacher and dedicated church member, Mokgotho has learned that life presents challenges.

“While we can’t predict the weather, we should know how to balance our professional life and career with other priorities. The changes we make should not be too drastic for our well-being,” she said.

Mokgotho suggested that the Department of Social Development’s Active Ageing programmes should offer a wider variety of activities beyond traditional competitive sports.

These activities should focus on low-impact and adaptable options that prioritise safety, social interaction, and individual ability levels.

Some examples suggested were walking races, chair exercises, bowling, swimming, tai chi, yoga, dance, table tennis, bocce, modified golf, and adapted versions of popular sports like basketball or volleyball with modified rules to accommodate physical limitations.

“In this way, one can progress slowly and steadily, helping to build confidence, motivation, and establish a regular routine,” she said.

“As a church pastor, my spiritual growth has taught me the importance of balancing both physical and spiritual care.”

Mokgotho said that helping others has been her passion. “When I joined the Polokwane Pensioners Association Club in 2017, I began mentoring both males and females in the community of Capricorn, helping them to focus on development projects and to participate in agriculture, poultry, and livestock programmes.”

She, however, encountered challenges such as application processes; access to government grants and funds; and limited available funding.

“This can be particularly daunting for those who are not familiar with the process or lack experience in grant writing. It also makes vulnerable people or communities reluctant to start civil society organisations.”