On Friday, hundreds of elderly people from all regions of Gauteng flocked into Vereeniging Civic Theatre to participate in the provincial choir festival. The event was organised by Gauteng Department of Social Development in partnership with Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation to afford elderly people a chance to showcase their talent while promoting healthy living. A total of five choirs from all five regions participated in the choral festival which mesmerises the crowd with their golden voices.
When giving a message of support Gauteng Social Development MEC Thuliswa Nkabinde-Khawe said she is excited to see senior citizens taking serious interest in programmes that are actually meant for them.
"I am so excited to see you so eager and determined to look after your health through music" said MEC.
She added that music is therapeutic in nature and will help our elderly to overcome some of their daily problems and worries. 
"Trust me when you leave here you would be renewed emotionally, spiritually and you will be able to continue providing guidance with refreshed minds" MEC said.
According to Frans Mamatela, chairperson of Gauteng Older Persons Forum, the festival aims to bring senior citizens from all corners of the province together to have fun and exercise their bodies through music. "We are hosting this festival today as part of active ageing programme where we bring together our elders from all regions in Gauteng to participate in the festival with their respective choirs".
"Our main aim is to take them out of their comfort zone, make them exercise their bodies while having fun and meeting other senior citizens."
One participants in the choral music was 69-year-old Thabiso Mosabala who is also a conductor of Sedibeng choir who said choral music is very mush therapeutic for older persons and allows them to have fun on the other hand.
Another elderly Barbara Dlamini from Ekurhuleni said she appreciates all the efforts government is putting to ensure that older people are taken care of.
"It makes us feel that we still have a useful role to play in our society and we are grateful for that" she added.
The older person's choir festival is part of the annual active ageing programme, an initiative of the department of social development that seeks to promote the positive image of ageing gracefully through older persons participation in various sporting and cultural activities.
The goal of the programme is also to promote the participation of older persons in healthy and active ageing initiatives that seeks to prevent or reduce old age related burden of diseases.