The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture says it is looking for the contact details of a group of elderly women from Inanda and surrounding communities who have organised themselves around football, after questions were raised in Parliament about why they have been left to sustain their activities without government support.
The women, some reportedly as old as 89, have been using football to stay physically active, improve their health and reduce the risk of lifestyle-related illnesses such as diabetes.
They have also formed a support network to combat the isolation and vulnerability experienced by many elderly women and have taken part in sporting competitions across provinces, where they have won medals and trophies.
But according to a parliamentary question put to Gayton McKenzie, the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, they have been unable to secure government assistance despite seeking support.
In its response, the department said it had searched its records but found no correspondence or request for assistance from the group.
The department has now asked for the name of the group and details of any previous approach made to government so that it can trace the matter and respond directly to the women.
“Should the Honourable Member be in a position to furnish the name of the group and the details of any approach previously made, the Department will trace the matter and respond to the group directly,” the department said.
It said support for older people participating in sport and recreation is provided principally through the National Active Ageing Programme, led by the Department of Social Development in partnership with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, provincial departments, municipalities and the South African Older Persons Forum.
The programme includes the Golden Games, where participants can progress from local and district competitions to provincial and national competitions.
The sporting codes include athletics, soccer, ball relay, ball pass and kick, ring-the-stick, goal shooting, passing the ball, dress-up, duck walk, rugby throw and Jukskei.
For a community-based group such as the Inanda women, the department said the entry point is at local and district level in KwaZulu-Natal, through the provincial Department of Social Development, working with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and the relevant municipality.
The department said participation in provincial and national competitions follows selection through these structures.
It also said its support for elderly people participating in community-based physical activity is delivered through its Active Recreation Programme and its participation in the National Active Ageing Programme.
However, the department made clear that it does not ordinarily provide direct national funding to individual community groups outside existing programmes and budget allocations.
Instead, once the group’s name and contact details are provided, DSAC says it will refer the women to the KwaZulu-Natal departments of Social Development and Sport, Arts and Culture so they can be incorporated into district and provincial active ageing structures.
The department said this would allow the group to become eligible for selection to provincial and national competitions “in the ordinary course”.
While the response does not commit to direct financial assistance, the department praised the women for sustaining the initiative themselves.
It said remaining physically active into one’s eighties and encouraging others in the community to do the same was precisely the kind of outcome that recreation policy was intended to achieve.
For now, however, the department’s immediate request is for the women’s identities and contact details so that officials can establish whether and how they previously sought assistance and connect them with the existing government structures.
