When former president Nelson Mandela sacrificed his time in prison, he was fighting for every South African’s freedom, including the elderly.

This is according to a number of pensioners who were given a platform to voice the challenges they face on a daily basis.

The event was organised by Past Divy Nzimande of Pentecostal Holiness Church, Faith in Christ branch, with the aim of building a relationship and hearing the elderly’s views on how they wish to be treated in communities.

The senior citizens raised their concerns on how abuse by young people was increasing, saying that Mandela would have wanted them to enjoy freedom to the fullest because he denied himself many privileges in his fight for liberation.

Ms Ruby Brown (75), a victim of robbery, said that young people are misusing the freedom they have by engaging in criminal activities like robbing and raping the elderly.

“We will always remember Madiba for his wish that all people must be free and we wish youngsters would also respect that. They steal our pension money which our black president had secured for us,” said Brown.

According to Ms Eunice Shube (73), the church should be at the forefront in the fight against abuse of older persons and not wait for the government.

“Opportunities such as these must be encouraged so that the youth can recognise how much we are traumatised by their abuse,” she said, thanking the pastor for the initiative which made them feel so special.

Nzimande added that youngsters were facing challenges because their wrongdoings have resulted in curses they could not deal with.

“You reap what you sow and that is a principle of nature. Let us love our grandparents, honour them as the Bible says and God will open the windows of heaven and shower us with blessings,” he said.

He also said that he wished to build an old-age home where the people in Masoyi could be cared for since there was not such a facility in that area.

“By the grace of God, we will build such a house and make sure that our parents and grandparents are secure and well taken care of,” he concluded.