Call to protect the elderly living alone
Government needs to ensure pensioners are safe, say Cofimvaba residents, amid endless murders
The elderly in Cofimvaba called for government to intervene by coming up with a plan to insure no pensioner lived alone amid the increasing murder rate in villages.
They were attending the recent Madiba Day celebration which Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) special programmes unit (SPU) held for 100 elders in Cofimvaba.
The district municipality donated urns, heaters, blankets and pepper spray to the elderly, and to care centres where they gather together.
SPU portfolio head Thembisile Bobo said this year the municipality had focused on Intsika Yethu, AB Xuma and Sakhisizwe care centres.
He said the event was aimed at raising awareness.
“We want elderly people to be cared for and protected in communities. There are many incidents of elderly people being killed and accused of witchcraft in our communities. These are issues government needs to intervene in for them to feel safe and secure,” he said.
“We are living in a broken society where family values are diminishing.”
He said it was important to instil respect for elders in the younger generation, during an era where there was no regard for humanity.
“The school curriculum must teach pupils about the values of loving the elderly and that they should be cared for and protected.
“If we want to fight crime, communities must assist the police.
“People must not protect criminals when they know who they are, even if it’s their children. People must make sure they do not buy stolen goods.
“The community must make sure that taverns do not exceed operating hours,” he said.
Nowandile Msengana, from Tsomo Elderly Service Centre, who opened her house for elders to come together, said they were grateful for the gifts from the municipality.
“The caregivers in our centres will make a warm cup of tea which some of the elderly do not even get in their own houses because they live with grandchildren who have no regard for them. They only want the pension monies we receive.
“Elderly people are being brutally murdered. We want the government to come up with a law that will prevent elders from living alone as they are being victimised.”