Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang is taking her department’s healthy lifestyle campaign seriously, according to her spokesperson.
The campaign encourages at least 30 minutes of physical activity five times a week, whether it be jogging or merely energetic household chores such as sweeping the yard or gardening.
”She does some stretching and light exercises at home for 30 minutes every day,” spokesperson Sibane Mngadi said on Thursday.
”Almost every event that we organise, community event, imbizos and so on, we are obliged to have a walk as part of that. She has always participated in that, which is something like every second weekend.
”Walks with communities have become a standard thing.”
The campaign urges South Africans to eat at least five fruits and vegetables a day and avoid fatty foods.
Mngadi said the minister, who is known for her advocacy of a diet including beetroot and garlic, was also ”quite serious” about healthy eating.
”When she goes on international trips she will try to encourage people to go for a better [eating] option,” he said.
Asked whether she encouraged her Cabinet colleagues to get daily exercise, he said a healthy lifestyle had been accepted as one of government’s ”apex” priorities.
”We hope the message is going through to everyone,” he said.
Tshabalala-Msimang last week officiated at the launch of Healthy Lifestyles Day at a ceremony in Port Shepstone which was accompanied by a one kilometre walk. – Sapa