Use ‘golden years’ to share wisdom, follow passion, retirees say

No-one knows exactly how long they will live, but statistics show people are living longer so retirement planning is vital to get the best out of your “golden years”.

“Just write that book you have been thinking about writing your whole life.

“You have so much knowledge and wisdom that you can give to the community and young people in general who need this information.

“Now is the best time to just start writing it,” said Reverend Buntu Mfenyana, who retired from the Eastern Cape department of education in 2015, only to later join the ministry at St Michael’s Cathedral Church in Komani.

The well-known reverend said he had no plans of retiring from the ministry.

“There is no retiring from the ministry, it is for life,” he said, adding that not making use of institutional wisdom in society was detrimental to future generations because they had nowhere to go to be informed and empowered.

He added that during 2015 and 2016, he was part of a programme organised by the department of education in which retired teachers and managers mentored school principals, which he said was a brilliant and effective strategy for knowledge sharing.

“Our motto is ‘Be retired but not tired’,” he said.

“Retired professional nurse Nodumo Mtshemla, from Komani, said for her retirement was just the beginning of another exciting journey to pursue her life-long dream of recording music.

After a long career working at several health facilities including Leratong Hospital in Krugersdorp, Johannesburg, Tsomo Clinic, Ezibeleni Clinic, Komani Hospital, Aloevale Clinic, Sibukeng Hospital and finally retiring from Frontier Hospital,

Mtshemla is now ready to pursue her passion for music.

Mtshemla said she wanted to inspire others, especially those who had retired, to follow their passion and make time to do what they always wanted to do.

“I want to create music and share it with people to unite and uplift them through whatever they may be going through. Music is a healer, I will record my own songs and compositions with a live band,” Mtshemla said.