Riding his bicycle and herding his cattle every day has kept Mr Vhulahani Joseph Ratshipaladza as fit as a teenager. The 75-year-old pensioner from Khubvi village, near Makonde, still looks strong and healthy for his age, and this he attributes to daily exercise and a positive attitude to life.
Dressed in a white shirt, Brentwood trousers, designer shoes and a tie is how Ratshipaladza goes about his daily routine of looking after his cattle. He believes one should always dress smartly, no matter the occasion or activity. "I enjoy my life to the fullest; I don't mind what people say or think about me. Being smartly dressed while I ride my bicycle is better than driving an expensive car in a dirty outfit," he said.
Ratshipaladza retired 10 years ago from a ceiling-manufacturing company in Gauteng. He said that wearing his good clothes every day made him feel good. "I make sure I always look neat, even when I go to the bush to look after my cattle. I just don't want my relatives to fight over my expensive clothes when God calls me for the eternal life," he said jokingly.
Asked what his typical day looked like, he replied: "I wake up at around 05:00 every morning, check on my cattle, and ride my bicycle around the village for about an hour. Then I go home, take a bath, and put on nice clothes before I take my cattle to the local bushes, where I look after them. My cattle never give me a tough time; they are now used to me riding my bicycle. In the bushes, I leave my bicycle under the trees while I lead my cattle to where there are greener pastures. After that, I get on my bicycle again as I take my cattle home."
He encourages fellow senior citizens to engage in daily exercise to promote longevity and good health. To the younger generation, his advice is always to look neat and take care of their personal hygiene.