In an ongoing effort to tackle the problem of elder abuse, the Department of Social Development will this weekend host a community engagement event in Mpumalanga with the view to finding a lasting solution to the problem. The gathering will be hosted by the Deputy Minister for Social Development, Mrs Maria Ntuli.
The gathering aims to give older persons an opportunity to engage with the Deputy Minister on critical issues affecting their lives. This is to allow them to participate in decision-making on issues affecting them and making them aware of their rights, including the right not to be abused.
The Department of Social Development is the lead department in terms of policy and legislative framework and issues affecting older persons, and so it strives to ensure that older persons are acknowledged as a valuable resource in the community.
The event is a follow up to previous dialogues by the Deputy Minister with older persons and will be used as a platform for the province to prepare for the coming World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) commemorated on the 15th June each year. WEAAD involves activities to bring greater recognition of abuse, neglect and mistreatment of older persons around the world.
The details of the visit are as follows:
Date: Saturday, 25 May 2013
Time: 10h00
Venue: Victor Khanye Municipality Sports Centre
Media is invited to cover the event.
For media enquiries contact:
Lumka Oliphant
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
