Photograph of Gladys Ngwenya (age 77) by Kim Ludbrook/EPA
In Cosmo City, a township next to Johannesburg, you will find a group of senior women known as The Boxing Grannies.
Started by award-winning trainer Claude Maphosa These women meet twice a week for a free boxing session. Some of the grannies use to play football (soccer) but looked for an alternative due to fear of injury. One of the ladies approached Maphosa boxing in the gym to find out how they could take part.
Maphosa created a programme for the grannies, combining a mix of boxing and fitness exercises. The Boxing Grannies team started to grow fast.
Made up of local members of the community who attend Church together, no one under the age of 65 is allowed, while the oldest of the “gogo” (Zulu for grandmother) is 85 years old.