Minister Dlamini to talk to Bushbuckridge Community about responsible behaviour this festive season
As the holiday season begins and people around the country ready themselves for December festivities, many elderly persons approach this time of the year with less enthusiasm. Many people during the festive season abuse alcohol, setting in motion an array of irresponsible behaviour, some of which is directed at and impact older persons.
The rise in the abuse and neglect of older persons during the festive season is directly proportional to the increase in use of alcohol in the country. During this period, older persons are left by themselves without the care they require, while others are subjected to physical and emotional abuse by family members.
Also, when people go out to enjoy holiday festivities they often leave children behind to be cared for by older persons. Many older persons are often not able to carry this burden, leaving them stressed and frustrated, while also depriving children of proper care. This is also a time when many parents die as a result of irresponsible behaviour brought on by alcohol abuse, forcing many older persons into parenting the children left behind.
The Minister of Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, will meet with the older persons and community of Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga Province, to raise awareness of these issues and to urge the community to exercise responsible behaviour this festive season.
Minister Dlamini will also address older persons on some of the issues raised during the Older Persons’ Parliament in Mpumalanga Province in October. She will be accompanied on her visit by Mpumalanga MEC for Social Development, Ms Nomsa Mtsweni.
This Bushbuckridge outreach programme is part of the Department’s Project Mikondzo – a service delivery improvement initiate aimed at expanding the reach of the Department’s services and find innovative and more efficient ways of delivering services to the poorest communities in the country.
Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the event scheduled as follows:
Date: 18 December 2014
Time: 12h00
Venue: Thulamahashe Stadium (Bushbuckridge), Mpumalanga province
Media can RSVP to Mr Jaconia Kobue on 073 026 1111 or Justice Ditshego on 079 497 7426 or
Media enquiries may be forwarded to:
Ms Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
