Limpopo Government celebrates elderly persons

During the provincial International Day of Older Persons celebration at Regorogile multi-purpose sport centre in Thabazimbi last Tuesday, Social Development MEC Nkakareng Rakgoale called on residents to respect, protect and promote the rights of the elderly as enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa.
Rakgoale, delivering the keynote address on behalf of Premier Stan Mathabatha, emphasised that the celebration was to remind people that they have a legal duty and moral obligation to treat older persons as human beings with full rights. She added that the elderly must enjoy all the rights enshrined in the Constitution, particularly the right to have their dignity respected. It was learnt that Rakgoale on the occasion also launched Social Development Month where the department lined up a number of activities aimed at highlighting the services that are being rendered by her office.

“We want our older persons to remain physically active as this has proved to aid in their health and healthy ageing in general. However, government will never be able to achieve an enabling environment for the protection and promotion of rights of older persons without the active participation, cooperation and support of the community and especially organisations such as those of civil society and the faith-based sector,” she stressed.
She stated that she was pained by the thought of the poor conditions some elders were being subjected to. Instead of ageing gracefully with the love and compassion of their children they are subjected to countless episodes of neglect and maltreatment, she explained. She reiterated that it was heart-breaking that there are still those who rob the elders of their pension monies and going as far as denying them food. Rakgoale urged that the society to unite and act together against deplorable tendencies such as the abuse of the elders, their unjustified discrimination and the general lack of respect. She cautioned that those who continue to abuse or disrespect their elders should know that they are working against the command of God.

Story: ENDY SENYATSI
>>endy@observer.co.za