Premier surprises granny on her 105th birthday celebration

Recently the premier of Mpumalanga, Mr David Dabede Mabuza’s philanthropic efforts did not only touch 105-year-old Gogo Julia Madonsela, but many elderly from Umjindi Local Municipality.
Mabuza’s foundation, called the DD Mabuza Foundation, donated a house to Gogo Madonsela and showered gifts, including food parcels on several other grannies.

Speaking at the event that was held at Emjindini Community Hall on Sunday, Mabuza said older people should be respected and cared for, as they carry the country’s history and heritage.
The premier said disrespecting grannies and taking them to old age homes were signs of moral decay in families.

“I’m happy to be among the elderly people today because they’ve got a special place in my heart. Today we are here to celebrate the life and the contribution of elderly people. Elderly people are generally people who are respected in society given the fact that they have to live up to now,” said Mabuza.

Mabuza further told the elderly to teach the youth of today about life and where they were coming from.
“Our help will only come from the African National Congress (ANC), nowhere else. You elderly know where you come from. Our elderly people stayed on farms and were treated like dogs in their own country by the previous government. Our elderly people left us with nothing to keep. I happened to grow up with elderly people and I took a voluntarily decision that I will fight to end poverty, especially among the elderly. To be human beings we need to understand where we come from and to know where we come from we must look at our grannies,” said Mabuza.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Condile Madonsela said as a family they were blessed to grow up under the guidance of Gogo Madonsela.
“She guided us as children and taught us the right way to behave. We are where we are today because of her guidance and teaching,” she said.