SEVENTY-SIX AND THRIVING: KZN SENIOR’S SECRET TO ACTIVE AGEING

By Slindile Ngcobo

• At 76, Dr Moses Dumisani Buthelezi, Chairperson of Senior Citizens in the Zululand District, is representing KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) at the National Golden Games in Bloemfontein.
• He credits his health to discipline, a 04:00 daily exercise routine, gardening and rearing chickens since joining the Active Ageing Programme.
• He praised the support of municipalities, the Department of Social Development (DSD) and the Department of Health (DoH), and called on Premiers, Mayors and departmental leaders to be more visible at ward level.

For 76-year-old Dr Moses Dumisani Buthelezi, the Golden Games are more than just a competition – they are a way of life.

Buthelezi, the Chairperson of Senior Citizens in the Zululand District in KwaZulu-Natal, is representing the province at the National Golden Games in Bloemfontein. He says the programme has transformed the way older persons view ageing.

“The Golden Games promote active ageing, prevent unnecessary diseases and give us dignity. We socialise, we laugh and we stay confident,” said Buthelezi.

A long-standing member of the programme who works closely with chairpersons from other districts, Buthelezi took part in the choir this year. He also enjoys passing the ball and goal shooting. Goal shooting is his favourite, as he says it sharpens observation, critical thinking and self-organisation.

His secret to staying fit? Discipline.

“I wake up at 04:00 every morning to exercise and walk. I encourage my peers to join me so that we can exercise together,” he said.
Since joining the Active Ageing Programme, his lifestyle has changed completely. He has taken up gardening, planting cabbages and onions, and has started rearing chickens, which keeps him physically and mentally active at home.

Buthelezi described the atmosphere in Bloemfontein as warm and welcoming, with seniors from different provinces bonding, sharing experiences and easing fatigue through laughter and social connection.

He praised the support from local and district municipalities, the Department of Social Development and the Department of Health, saying there were no major challenges with transport or costs. However, he made a heartfelt plea for more visible leadership.