Editor
Our democratically elected government is dramatically failing the most important category of people in the nation, the pensioners.This category is the one that stood by the African National Congress (ANC) firm and in 1994 they were still young and vibrant.As elderly people, we have stood by the ruling party because we believed our lives would eventually change.Most of the elderly lost during the early 90’s, some lost properties, children, spouses and others lost their marriages.
Those who were working were exploited by the previous government’s policies. We had hoped when our democracy sets in, we as elders would be considered but instead the government kept on playing us for fools.In 2012 we were told the previous government robbed us of our pensions by Pension Redress People but up to now we are still in the dark.This issue comes only when it is election time, so that we must vote.We are going to die before any action has taken place and probably that is the aim.
Our government has done a lot for the people who have never worked than for the people who have worked before.
We want economic freedom for all but we discourage the youth from being disrespectful and disturbing parliament.
We know that our children are angry with government but there are ways of addressing disputes.As a nurse and pensioner, I know exactly how painful it is to be exploited. From 1981, I worked as a doctor’s slave in the maternity ward. I used to screen and perform difficult deliveries but at the end of the month, all those were allocated to the doctors so they get the money and I got nothing. I did that for 15 years.
When I resigned in 2000 I left 123 leave days because whenever I wanted leave I was asked who was going to take charge when I was on leave?There was also a shortage of staff that seemed unending.In 1998 I succeeded to move to Ward Four, which is the maternity ward from North Wing to South Wing at Estcourt Provincial hospital. I used my own strategies because the management at the time were benefiting from the South Wing set up, which was called the private wing.I tried the first strategy where I involved the district nursing service manager and when I saw that I could not get results, I had to find out how I could get to the provincial department.
I got to know that somebody from Natalia was coming for a meeting to the South Wing boardroom. I waited for him at the tunnel entry at the North Wing. I greeted him, introduced myself and told him why I was waiting for him. I told him about the conditions at the maternity ward being in such a bad state that the health of my patients was compromised. Clients did not have proper ablution facilities and space was so limited, sometimes we had floor beds. He said he would come after the meeting. The management was angry, saying he did not come for that but he insisted he would come and see the ward.We provided him with a lot of information.
We received feedback within three months. We moved the maternity ward in September 1998 and the management was so angry that they left me to see how to move the clients. I got help from my staff and workshop staff. The management only came after three days when we were settled.My point is that people up there like the President do not usually know that the people who they have tasked to do things are not doing them. So it is very unfair to say the ruling party is useless. We must try and reach out to them to see if there is no corruption.
Suggested moves:
1. Work together with the ruling party to stop corruption.
2. Help the police find criminals.
3. Stop vandalising property.
4. Children, be patient. Nothing can result out of a negative attitude, especially when it involves anarchy and insubordination.
5. Do something to help yourself while waiting for government to deliver services.
6. Do not listen to people who say and do negative things during protests. These will cost the government a lot of money and you will be 60-years-old before the government can pick itself up. There is a saying that I once knew as a child – ‘The patient bird catches the worm.’
