Sport, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister, Peace Mabe has emphasised the importance of exercise in the overall wellbeing of the nation.
‘We are a winning nation and as a winning nation we need to be healthy. So encouraging our people to be involved in being active and exercising is part of us moving forward as a healthy country.
‘Being active in sport is not about having money, this kind of activity of bringing people together to walk as nation is one of the indicators that it is possible for people to organise themselves as communities [to take up walking],’ said the Deputy Minister in an interview with Radio 702.
This as the radio station hosted the Walk the Talk event in Tshwane on Sunday in celebration of 30 years of democracy following the historic elections of April 1994 where South Africans of all races went to the polls for the first time. The 1994 elections ushered in a new democratic dispensation.
The walk started from the Freedom Park Heritage Site and finished at the southern lawns of the Union
Buildings.
The Deputy Minister also encouraged South Africans to support Team South Africa as it participates in the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France. The opening ceremony of the games took place on Friday.
‘We are expecting more medals… they never disappoint. Let us tweet and send messages of support to encourage them [as they] represent the country. Let us rally behind the team,’ she told the station.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has wished Team South Africa the best success for the games.
READ | Well wishes for Team South Africa at Paris Olympics
In a post on X, President Ramaphosa congratulated the Springboks Sevens on obtaining South Africa’s first medal at the games on Saturday.
‘Well done to our Springbok Sevens on your bronze-winning 29-16 victory over Australia to open #TeamSA’s medal harvest at #Paris 2024. This is a great start to our Games,’ said the President.
Mabe as well as Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni and Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, were
among the many South Africans who participated in the walk.
‘Eight kilometre walk done (1h25) and the route was magnificent,’ said Minister Ntshavheni in a post on social media platform, X.
Source: South African Government News Agency