By: Motshabi Hoaeane
On 12 August 2025, In the calm and breezy yard of the Spruitview Library yard a group who refer to themselves as the “Senior Queens and Kings” came together for their weekly routine exercise session with their fitness instructor Mandla Vincent Khumalo (63) – to finish strong by tanking-in back to back stretches and squats that keep their health issues at bay. Khumalo who is founder of the Amandla Amasha Senior Citizens Group, works at the Tswelopele Clinic in Spruitview and has made fitness part of his lifestyle to help people recover from illness.
It’s not all sweaty or hard on muscle gain, as amped up Khumalo counts loudly “one, two, three, four” squats for the members who are all above the ages of 50 years old. Instead, giggles and smiles fill the air as calories melt away with workouts that concentrate on cardio and muscle resilience. “Yippee”, “Yeebooo!” resounds in the air, as the back to back session outside comes to completion and moves inside the library’s hall.
This group is an example of exercise beyond the aspirations of a hot summer body and the often competition and adrenaline pumped sessions that you can expect from a typical gym. It is a session meant to optimise life expectancy, recovery, and keep illness at arms length. The exercise routines by Khumalo every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, renews the hopes of survivors of cancer, accidents, and other life-impairing chronic illnesses.
Khumalo – jovially called Nkomonde by his group – says his inspiration came while working at the clinic seeing how the elderly relied solely on medication for recovery from health setbacks. He mentioned that his intention with the group was now to amplify the gains made through exercise to make a positive impression to those that still attend clinics by having their exercise sessions broadcast through the clinic’s monitors. “I want sick people young and old while they wait to be served, instead of sleeping on those cold chairs to watch older people doing exercises.” He said that this will be great motivation which would supplement talks where sick people are inspired about exercise.
Thoko Maseko (68) said that when she started gym sessions she didn’t even know how to walk.
“I can write a book based on the experience of how much I’ve recovered in my health thanks to this group.”
Recovering from an accident that catapulted him across the windscreen in 2023, Simon Ndaba (80) said Nkomonde’s exercise routines helped him recover his posture and overall fitness following his near fatal accident. “The gym has helped me a lot – I would be a scrap had it not been for the gym, I didn’t think I would be able to stand as firmly as I do today-I can even dance now because my joints and bones are fit.”
A survivor of cancer, and a heart condition owing to chemotherapy, Sandeleni Ndodana (58) said “My mind is alive -while my body was attacked, but not my mind, this is because of the exercising.” she said. “It’s not about slimming but rather about fitness,” she said.
Others like Dudu Skhosana (75), mentioned that exercise helps maintain overall health especially having recovered from a wheelchair, and sees to it that the body is prevented from further wear and tear.
Kumalo said that he wanted this session to be able to inspire people regionally and nationally to make an exercise impactful beyond their own location and make sure that fitness is made available to all. The group which started in the early stage with at least two people is now in its 5 year mark, and seeking to stretch its impact by reaching other senior citizens through monitors in the clinics where they hope their sessions will be displayed to make exercise an integral part of a healthy lifestyle.
