Programme Director
Officials from the Department and our Partners in the Social Sector
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is always so humbling and honoured to be in the company of older people. One gets a sense of great blessing and contentment when you can engage and listen to the pearls of wisdom that comes from years of experience and culture.
Vandag is ek baie bly want ons gaan nie net baie pret het nie, maar ons is ook hier om al die wenners van die Distrikte te eer en ook wil ek almal wat dit gemaak het tot die Provinsiale finale geluk toe te wens.
We are gathered today to wish all the participants well in the Provincial leg of the annual golden games. From this gathering a provincial team will be selected to represent the Province at the National Golden Games to be held in Mpumalanga towards the end of October this year.
Ek kan sien ons deelnemers is almal baie opgewonde vir vanda gen ook weet ek dat almal hulle beste sal doen om die Provinsie te verteenwoordig in Mpumalanga.
Dames en Here, die waarde van ‘n lang en gesonde lewe lê daarin dat U waardevolle lewenservaringe opgedoen het op U reis van oud word. Hierdie is deel van die reis wat elke mens moet meemaak en baie van ons mense is nie so gelukkig om ‘n ryp ouderdom te bereik nie.Die wysheid wat U bekom het, het soms gepaard gegaan met harde lewenslesse en foute wat U gemaak het in hierdie lewensreis van U. Dit is daarom belangrik dat U moet leiding neem in die gemeenskap en die generasie van vandag moet lei en verseker dat hulle beter besluite kan neem wat nie net tot voordeel van hulle sal wees nie, maar tot voordeel van die hele gemeenskap
Ladies and gentlemen, mothers and fathers, this year the Golden Games takes place under the theme “Productive Ageing” and it seeks to demonstrate the value and benefits of living healthy lifestyles, active participation in the home and in the community and just generally to age with grace and elegance.

Borre le BoMme, boleng jwa pholo le bophelo jo bo lele bo bonwa fa o phidile bophelo jwa boleng  mo kgodishong go fitlhela malatsi a botsofe.
Se, ke karolo ya loeto lo mongwe le mongwe a tshwanetseng go lo tsamaya. Ebile bontsi jwa batho ba rona ga ba itumelela go tsofala.
Botlhale jo lo bo ruileng, le dithuto tsa botshelo go ya ka kgolo ya lona le go tswa mo diphoshong tse lo ithutileng ka tsona. Go matshwanedi gore lo etelele setshaba pele. Lo etele lostha le ba ba lo tlhatlhamang pele, ba tle ba kgone go tsaya ditshwetso tse di lolameng, esng go bona hela, mme ene sekai setshabeng kakaretso.

I know older people tend to tell more interesting stories about the past. They will include colourful details that bring listeners into the story with them. They can also pull from a trove of experiences younger people don’t have, simply because they lived longer. And today is but yet another chapter in your colourful book of living. The stories and experiences you take from this journey will be with you forever and people back home will wait to hear them.
I can see that there is still a sparkle in the eyes of some of the ladies and a raging fire burning inside of you. And that is commendable because when I get to your age I too want to be as active and healthy as you are.
Ek is seker dat baie van ons ouer mense vandag sal gou met die jonger amptenare kan afreken in die verskeie sportsoorte waarin julle van dag sal deelneem.
I want to conclude by wishing you well and know that your presence here today makes you winners. The fact that you are alive, healthy and active in a time where you are confronted with so many social challenges shows that you are resilient and nothing will keep you down.’
We have as a Province in the last few years not fared so well as we expected, but judging from the athletes and competitors here today, I am sure we will do much better and we will make the Province proud. But before then you have this event to compete in and to give it your very best.
To the organizers, volunteers, officials and other partners on board I wish to extend my profound appreciation for a job well done.
As we about to start the games I wish to assure you as the older generation that you are part and parcel of the caring society that we are building and that no one will be left behind as we ensure that we provide the best quality services to our older persons.  

You might be our history, but your story today will be told in the future.

Good luck, God speed and let the games begin.

Thank you