Heritage Month

Florah Lekau and resident Cedric Hicks thoroughly enjoy the Cultural Dance Show.

Celebrating Cultural Diversity at RSCC

On Friday, September 23, the community at Rand Aid’s Ron Smith Care Centre gathered outdoors in their numbers to celebrate, through music and dance, the richness and diversity of cultures represented at the care centre. 

Seated under the lovely shade of gazebos and umbrellas, residents and visitors were treated to a cultural dance spectacle performed by various staff from housekeeping, nursing, gardening and occupational therapy. Everyone was beautifully attired in their various national dress and many of the residents wore hats decorated with South African flags and an indication of where they were born or their cultural roots.

The dance programme included traditional dances from the various tribes of our rich and colourful rainbow nation:  the BaPedi, Zulu, Xhosa, BaVenda, BaTshonga, and Indian. The traditional African dances were followed by the whole group performing a Latin American line dance and Israeli folk dance. Then it was on to Austria, where the staff scattered into the audience and danced with the seated residents to a beautiful Viennese waltz. The show ended with the whole care centre community being invited to join in the last dance to music by the well-known group, Malaika.

The cultural dance show was followed by a traditional South African braai which included boerewors, chicken, salads, pap and gravy, and was nicely finished off with an Eskimo Pie, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Debbie Christen, Rand Aid’s Manager: Recreational Programmes, commented, “The exposure to the music and dance of different cultures was wonderfully enriching, and was a good opportunity to learn more about the cultural identity and heritage of our residents and staff at the care centre. Staff members were very excited and proud to be able to share their traditional dances and their enthusiastic participation created a wonderful feeling of unity and harmony.”

Many of the residents remarked that it was a joyous celebration and that they all benefited from this event in that they discovered a newly-found appreciation for the diversity of cultures in South Africa and learned more about the cultural identities of their neighbours.

Bunny Marks (front) with Janet Smart, Dolly Luke and Gertie Dansky (back).

Front: Prudence Mokoena, Faith Noghabe, Maria Letswalo, Nakedi Chokoe and Candy Ratshibvumo. Back: Beauty Buthelezi, Sarah Moila and Hazel Makhwebusa.

Resident Mariana Duvenage, whose roots are in Portugal, enjoys the Heritage Day event.

Front: Sannie Wucherpfennig, Mariana Duvenage, Marie Theron and Lorraine Lowden. Back: Jovita Mendonca and Molly Matroos.

Resident Beile Rollnick enjoys the Strauss waltz with Marietta Viljoen.

Pam Moodley, Thabisile Ndobe, Ria van der Westhuizen, Vhutshilo Nemakula, Nolly Mlandu, Germinah Baloyi and Khumbalo Mabuli.

Residents Margaret Beattie and Elaine van Heerden enjoy a beautiful Strauss waltz with Rand Aid’s Debbie Christen. Back: Resident Jack Toker enjoys the music with Shirley Makwarela.

The Staff Dance Group performs an exuberant Latin American line dance.

Zuko Ndamse.

Embracing diversity… Resident Colleen Blowe, Lillian Mashale, Penelope Mthembu, Shirley Makwarela,  resident Joy Smith and Takalani Phutu.