Winter’s chill was no match for the warmth of kindness in Riverside Extension 5, where smiles, laughter and heartfelt conversations filled the air as senior citizens gathered to celebrate Mandela Day (July 18).

Instead of spending the day alone, members of the Tshwarafa Oldies Club were surrounded by caring community members from Diepsloot SAPS, Community Policing Forum (CPF) and the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD), who arrived with blankets, hot soup, cold drinks and, most importantly, their time.

Read more: 744 new homes for Riverside View

Tshwarafa Oldies Club is an NPO dedicated to supporting the elderly in the Riverside community.

The initiative saw volunteers hand over blankets, serve warm soup and cold drinks, and spend time with the elderly, bringing comfort during the winter season while honouring Mandela Day’s call to serve others.

Deputy chairperson of the Riverside CPF, Marie Maseko, said the initiative reflected the strong partnership between the CPF and the police in serving the community.

Also read: Riverside residents fix what JW couldn’t

“According to the South African Police Act, as the CPF, we have to work hand in hand with the police. We cannot work in isolation. Today we partnered with Diepsloot SAPS and JMPD to celebrate Mandela Day with the gogos here in Riverside Extension 5. We handed over blankets and prepared soup and cold drinks. It is a small gesture, but it is our way of showing appreciation to them.”

Although the CPF supports communities across different extensions in Diepsloot, Maseko said they chose Riverside Extension 5 for this year’s Mandela Day celebration to ensure that senior citizens in the area also experienced the spirit of giving.

She added that caring for older people goes beyond providing material support.

“These are our mothers and our grandmothers. By spending time with them, we also learn from them. We want to support active ageing so that they do not become isolated. They deserve to enjoy this stage of their lives while feeling valued and included in the community.”

Maseko said the partnership with the Tshwarafa Oldies Club extends beyond Mandela Day, with the CPF regularly hosting awareness campaigns for senior citizens.

Centre manager of the Tshwarafa Oldies Club, Susan Mboniswa, expressed gratitude for the visit and the generosity shown by the law enforcement agencies and community partners.

“Today we had visitors who came to celebrate Mandela Day with us. We are very happy that Diepsloot police, in partnership with CPF and JMPD, brought us gifts, delicious food and showed us love today. We are grateful, and may God bless them for remembering us.”

Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates!