Pretoria - Not quite dressed in the trademark red suit with a sleigh hauled by reindeer, Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde spread some good old fashioned Christmas cheer to the elderly and orphans of Hammanskraal.
Merriment in the form of music and traditional dance filled the Makgoba Sebotoma Sports Centre, as locals turned up to celebrate the spirit of community that is so often highly accentuated at this time of the year.
To many, the Christmas party is something that will forever remain etched in their memories.
"I'm happy that government had remembered us, (those) who cannot do things for themselves," 81-year-old Matshube Mogang told BuaNews. "I wish they could also do the same for others."
Addressing the attendees at the start of the party, Minister Mahlangu-Nkabinde said her department felt it was important to remember the contributions made by the elderly to society.
"We felt it is the right thing to do to thank you," she said.
She also encouraged the youth from various local orphanages to work hard and take their studies seriously, and cautioned them to stay away from social distractions.
"You should steer away from drugs," added the minister.
The minister also promised bursaries to the top six matric pupils in the area.
Last week, Mahlangu-Nkabinde launched the Disability Policy aimed at, among other things, prioritising the needs of people with disabilities.
The department's Deputy Minister, Henrietta Bogapane-Zulu - who is partially sighted - took part in the drafting of the policy, assisted by other disabled people.
The policy addresses the needs of all diverse disabilities including lighting, sound, signage, tactile, ramp, parking, ablution facilities and lifts.
