Elderly people from across Soweto took part in a five-kilometre walk as part of the Annual Gogo Joint Walk initiative.

In its 17th year, the event continues to encourage the elderly to stay active and healthy.

The event organisers asked government to help support and fund the initiative to reach more communities and to raise awareness about the health challenges the elderly have to endure.

Every Saturday, they gather at Mofolo Community Hall to exercise, a routine many say helps reduce high blood pressure, arthritis and other age-related illnesses.

One of the organisers Tshidi Masolane says walking is key to maintaining good health at any age.

"This walk is important because it gives you stamina and keeps you healthy as an older person. It helps delay aging, even when you're 40, you'll look a lot younger. Older people need to take care of their health and keep exercising because it makes us feel alive, releases depression, cancer and high blood pressure."

Some participants say the walk is not about being fit but about living a healthy life and fighting diseases so that they can live longer.

"This walk has taught me the importance of staying active. I walk 5km everyday and it really works for me. Even though I'm much older, I can walk long distances and benefit a lot from it. Thanks to this daily walk, I no longer suffer from a lot of illnesses, and I know I will live longer."

The Gogo Joint Walk founder Joyce Ncala says it's time government supports programmes like these that promote healthy living and a healthy lifestyle among older people.

"No one is assisting us, not even the government. If it were not for my family, I don't think I would have been able to continue for this long. The government should take such initiatives seriously."

The organisers hope to expand this to other townships next year to encourage young and old people to exercise and keep fit.