‘Senior citizens need more help’

Aged attend Active Ageing Programme

SENIOR citizens attending the annual Active Ageing Programme have called on the government and the private sector to be involved in matters to do with older people.

This as the event in the City of Mangaung, Free State draws to an end today following a week of festivities.

The seniors from nine provinces showcased their talents through music and dance.

The SA Older Persons’ Forum (SAOPF) reflected on the committee’s three-year tenure in office, with outgoing chairperson Reverend Pitjadi Ntshabeleng saying that, while they have achieved more to strengthen the organisation as a voice of older people, much more needed to be done to ensure the involvement of other government departments and the private sector.

“We are currently working well with the Department of Social Development, but struggling with other departments that have a constitutional obligation to render services that improve the quality of life of older persons.

“Our mandate is to advocate and engage meaningfully with both government and the private sector to integrate our needs and perspectives in their programmes,” said Ntshabeleng.

The committee also reflected on the recently-released crime statistics and noted with concern the increasing number of sexual offences against older persons, particularly in rural areas.

Outgoing secretary of SAOPF, Daphney Memela, said: “The crime statistics do not give us a full picture on the victimisation of those aged 60 and over, including sexual violence against older persons.

“Recent media reports on sexual offences is a worrying factor, especially if you consider that the majority of the victims are women.”

Key among some of the committee’s advocacy achievements was the successful establishment of the wardbased older person’s forums in municipalities across the country.

The establishment of forums at community level further strengthen their voice and provide opportunities for them to participate in the integrated development planning and other decision-making processes on matters that affect them, including resource allocation and the provision of basic services such as human settlement, health, water and sanitation.

The new executive committee was elected on Monday during the SAOPF Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The AGM mandated the newly-elected executive committee to advocate for the scrapping of the means test for an old age grant.