VRYHEID KZN: 2021 resolutions of Senior Citizens Parliament

The Senior Citizens Parliament for 2021 was held in the Zululand District (AbaQulusi Local Municipality) on Thursday in the Ekuthuleni Hall. The legislature holds this sector parliament as part of its consultation with sectors of society to carry out its constitutional mandate to strengthen democracy.

The theme of the 2021 Senior Citizens Parliament is ‘The Year of Charlotte Maxeke: Digital Equity For All’. With this theme, the elderly seek to find ways of accessing social media and other digital advancement to better their way of living. Deputy Speaker: KZN Legislature Mr Mthembu, different MECs and councillors were present at the event. Cllr AM Hlatshwayo, who is the Community Services Portfolio Committee chairperson from AbaQulusi Municipality, welcomed all the guests seated at the venue. He went back to the history of AbaQulusi and counted all the tourism attractions the area has to offer. “We welcome you all, honourable members in our area; the land of the heroes. Ours is one of the municipalities that is known for its good deeds and today, you are in the heartland of the Zulu kingdom.”

Zululand District Deputy Mayor MM Kunene also welcomed the people gathered in the hall under the Zululand District authority. “We welcome you all and we are thankful to meet the MECs, as they are like parents to us. When we see them, it’s like we are seeing our parents. If a child sees their parents, they let the parents know what is going on in their lives – whether it is good or bad. I am so happy to see MEC Khoza among us, as I want to address the issue of vouchers from the Department of Social Development (DSD) or SASSA. I don’t know if you are aware of the fact that food vouchers are being received by certain individuals who belong to specific parties. They use politics in order for the people to get these vouchers. If one does not belong to that specific party, they do not get access to the vouchers. We have old people who queue for long hours outside the DSD offices, but at the end of the day, they don’t get their vouchers. The food vouchers are for everyone who is in need in the community. We need assistance, so let us not work according to politics.”

The purpose of the Senior Citizens Parliament is to talk about how government cares for the old people. MEC for Social Development Nonhlanhla Khoza took to the podium and assured the deputy mayor that they will look into her concerns regarding food vouchers in the Zululand District. The MEC addressed the guests concerning the 2020 resolutions and responses on behalf of KZN Premier Sihle ZIkalala. “Our government and legislature takes the rights of senior citizens and the protection of human rights for older persons very seriously. These gatherings are not for the government or honourable members of the legislature to debate or come here to defend ourselves. The first resolution was a concern raised by old people that cases involving senior citizens as victims are not prioritised by investigating officers. With young people, cases such as rape or abuse are attended to faster than those of older citizens. The response from government was that the department reaffirms its mandate to provide police monitoring and oversee the effectiveness of police service, including receiving reports from the SAPS. Another resolution was directed to the Department of Health. Older citizens wait for hours in queues in public health facilities, so these facilities must find innovative ways to work efficiently and prioritise older citizens so they do not spend so long standing in queues. The Department of Health responded that they have tried to shorten the process of older citizens standing in queues for long hours. The department further says they are doing SMDDs, where older citizens can collect their medications close to their homes – such as churches, the chief’s residence and community halls.

Older citizens also raised the issue of staff at public health facilities, where the staff take tea breaks and lunch at the same time, and keep patients and senior citizens waiting. It was resolved that public health authorities must ensure that staff take turns to go on tea and lunch breaks to avoid interruptions that occur in service delivery. The other response from the department was that, in all public health facilities, there is a daily allocation of staff so that they take turns. There are also suggestion boxes for older people to write what they don’t like about the service. Senior citizens also requested the construction of senior citizens’ villages throughout the province, and it was resolved that the Department of Human Settlement must give detailed plans and timelines of construction of these villages. Furthermore, the Department of Human Settlement must ensure that houses are designed to meet the needs of senior citizens. The department responded by saying that they do not have a policy nor a programme called senior citizens’ villages; instead there is the KZN Special Needs Housing Policy, which allows for housing assistance to be provided to vulnerable groups.” She concluded by saying, “The sitting resolved that post offices must work with SASSA and increase the number of staff so that the programme at post offices will be faster to avoid long queues for elderly people.”

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