When Samuel Mbokwane, 68 reluctantly agreed to join the local club that trains the elderly after being scouted by the club members to come and pegging the washing, little did he know that he will be at his healthiest.
Mbokwane, a married father with six kids from Mabopane worked at Jacksteel in Pretoria from 1992 until he retired in 1999 when the company he worked for closed down.
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"My disability does not define who I am", says Mbokwane who unfortunately sustained serious injuries in 1996 while at work when a scaffolding fell on his leg. Though he fully recovered and went back to work, it was amputated in 2015 when he suddenly developed gangrene.
When he is not spending time with his family, Mbokwane spends time with his friends at the society that he is part of. They support each other when there are funerals, and birthdays.
Although they train only twice a week, Mbokwane feels that it is not enough so he takes it upon himself to practice every day. Ever since he joined the club he has not looked back and he is the healthiest and happiest.
Mbokwane was part of the team which represented Gauteng at the National Golden Games event which took place from 21 until 25 October 2019, in Port Elizabeth.
The National Golden Games are part of the Active Ageing Programme which aims to extend a healthy life expectancy and is a strategy to improve the quality of life as well as to prevent or delay disabilities/ or chronic diseases that are costly to individuals, families and the health care system.