Programme Director
MEC’s of various provincial department
Executive Mayor of Ngaka Modiri Molema
Executive Mayor of Bojanala Platinum District
Executive Mayor of Dr Kenneth Kaunda
Executive Mayor of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati
Mayor of Mahikeng Local Municipality
Members of Mayoral Council present here
Dikgosi tsa rona tse di tlotlegang
Senior Managers
Officials
Members of the Media
Ladies and gentlemen
Bagolo ba rona ba ba fano
Dumelang, Bagaetsho!
Ke boitumelo jo bogolo mo go nna go nna karolo ya pulo semmuso ya metshameko ya bagolo ya ngwaga wa 2012 eo e bidiwang Golden Games.
Re ikutlwa re le motlotlo jaaka puso ya Bokone Bophirima go nna profense ya bone (4) go tshwara metshameko ya Golden Games e e kobiseditsweng go senola talente ya bagodi ba rona mo go tsa metshameko, go rotloetsa matlhaga-tlhaga a bone le go netefatsa fa ba le boitekanelo jo bo siameng.
Progamme Director, the national Golden Games we are hosting today in Mahikeng are the 4rd Golden Games that have taken place in the Republic of South Africa under the guardianship of the Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA), the national Department of Social Development and Health.
These games were first launched in Eastern Cape in 2009 and have, to this very day continued to attract older persons from across the provinces, many from rural and poor communities.
It is for these games that our Senior Citizens from all district municipalities have converged, here, in Mahikeng Local Municipality to showcase their sporting skills in various sport codes which include athletics, soccer and many others.
As said earlier the main objectives of the Golden Games are, to enhance the quality of life and improve the health of older persons and to embrace active ageing. These games further creates awareness of the abilities and capabilities of older persons in sport and recreational activities.
Equally important, we also aim to support and increase the number of older persons participating in sport and recreational activities across the length and breadth of the province.
I am confident that the Golden Games will grow in leaps and bounds as the district and provincial participation increases by attracting more older persons in most disadvantaged communities.
Re ipiletsa go bagarona go tshegetsa bagolo ba rona mo metshamekong e, gore batle ba e itumelele le go e rata, mme segolo gore ba itumelele dingwaga tsa bona tsa botshelo.
Older persons continue to play a vital role in our families and in the society at large. That meaningful role cannot be over-emphasised.
They have always made major contributions in the society including the freedom we enjoy today.
For instance, throughout our province and elsewhere - millions of patients are cared for at home by their grandparents.
When these patients pass on, orphaned children left behind are mainly looked after by their grandparents.
It has become a norm in our families that caring for dependent and sick individuals is mostly done by older people, particularly older women – hence the dramatic increase of granny-headed households in many of our communities.
In the remotest parts of the province older persons contributions to their families, societies and economies are invaluable.
Most of them partake in unpaid work including subsistence farming and in voluntary roles.
Though they play the most important role in their communities their contributions are often unnoticed and undervalued by the very communities they serve.
This is a greatest challenge facing all of us here.
If at all we really value our older persons we should, as communities
- Respect our older persons
- recognise their roles in child rearing
- support the contribution that older persons make in the society, particularly their caring activities
- enable older people to participate in volunteer activities
- allow them the necessary space to age with dignity, - free from harm or any form of discrimination.
- educate boys and girls to understand and avoid gender stereotyping
- combat gender discrimination in all aspects of life including access to welfare services
We have said it and we say it now, as the ANC-led government that we will remain unshaken until we root out elderly abuse in our communities.
We have demonstrated this by putting in place laws, regulations and policies – all calculated at combating any form of violence against elderly people.
I strongly believe that these Golden Games will steer us towards the right direction to uphold our values of our Constitution and further consolidate our work in eradicating adult poverty, promoting human rights and restoring the dignity of our older persons by condemning the heinous crime perpetuated against them.
Let us all support all the programmes that promote the well-being of our elderly. They too, have contributed immensely in the attainment of freedom. As a result they deserve to enjoy the fruits of freedom.
In conclusion, I would like express my profound thanks to the Local Organising Committee. More importantly I would like to wish all the participants the best of luck in various sporting codes.
Let the games begin!
Ke a leboga.
