South Africa to host healthy lifestyles day

By Ofentse Mokae
25 February 2010

Following the proposal of the African Union Conference of Ministers of Health, cabinet has approved that the country host the official launch of the Southern African Development Community Lifestyles Day.

The Healthy Lifestyle day which will be observed tomorrow will provide an excellent platform for the youth to draw a link between physical activity, fitness and high performance, the minister in the presidency Collins Chabane said today.

Chabane who was briefing the media today in parliament following cabinet’s meeting yesterday, said the day will also educate the adult population on the benefits of physical fitness for their well being.

The official event will take place on Friday and Saturday in the Western Cape.

“The launch of the Lifestyle Day will include a 5-kilometre walk, which will include ministers and other dignitaries from other countries on the continent,” Chabane said.

He however refused to be drawn on the lifestyle audits announced by Finance minister Pravin Gordhan, saying the matter did not form part of the agenda in yesterday’s cabinet meeting.

Asked about the “intelligence report” mentioned earlier to the media by ANCYL President Julius Malema, Chabane said the matter will be dealt with by the relevant statutory bodies.

The lifestyle audits are said to be performed on senior government officials as well as high profile political leaders, while the ‘intelligence report” is said to have names of senior ANC leaders, most who backed Zuma to his ascension to the Presidency, to be audited by SARS and to be probed of any corruption or tender irregularities.

This followed widespread media reports that Malema had benefited extensively in multi-million government tenders, particularly from cash strapped municipalities in Limpopo through his companies.

Malema has strongly denied these allegations.