KZN Premier honours seniors in Umdoni
Innovative programmes aimed at improving the quality of life of senior citizens was unveiled.
The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Thamsanqa Ntuli, joined senior citizens to commemorate the International Day of Older Persons in Umdoni recently.
In line with this year’s theme, Empowering Elderly Voices for an Inclusive Future, Ntuli unveiled a comprehensive package of targeted interventions and innovative programmes aimed at improving the quality of life of older persons.
These initiatives are designed not only to protect and uphold the rights of senior citizens, but also to enable them to play an active and meaningful role in their families, communities and in KZN’s broader socio-economic development agenda.
Ntuli visited Anchor Village Old Age Home in Umzinto. He also thanked officials from social development, home affairs, health, and the banking sector for bringing services closer to the senior citizens on their special day.
He hailed the seniors for playing a pivotal role in breaking the shackles of apartheid and for their meaningful role in ending the violence which crippled the province in the mid 1980s and early 1990s.
Ntuli called on the residents of Umzinto and surrounding areas to protect the elderly and to report those who abuse senior citizens.
The International Day for Senior Citizens honours the key role played by senior citizens as custodians of history, heritage and knowledge.
The provincial government recognises that older persons remain among the most vulnerable members of society, frequently subjected to neglect, exclusion and various forms of abuse.
These include physical and sexual violence, financial exploitation often by close relatives and social marginalisation, including harmful cultural practices such as witchcraft accusations.
Ntuli announced decisive and far-reaching measures to combat these injustices, strengthen protective mechanisms and promote social and economic inclusion for older persons.
These actions form part of the provincial government’s broader efforts to build a safer, more caring and inclusive society for all.
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