Mpumalanga Premier, Mr David Mabuza, accompanied by Social Development MEC, Mrs Candid Mashego-Dlamini, will hold interactive dialogues with older persons in various district municipalities in the province. Although the dates for the Nkangala and Gert Sibande districts have not yet been confirmed, Ehlanzeni will hold its event on 8 April 2014 at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.
The dialogues are aimed at promoting the entrenchment of older persons’ rights and dignity agenda in Mpumalanga. Government has acknowledged its obligation with regards to older persons by being involved in many international forums that seek to defend and protect the rights of older persons.
South Africa is amongst countries that adopted the Political Declaration and Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing during the Second World Assembly held in Madrid, Spain in April 2002. The Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing is a resource for policy-making, suggesting ways for government, non-government organisations and other key role players to reorient the ways in which their societies perceives, interact with and care for their older citizens. The Office of the Premier in Mpumalanga has since established the Office on the Rights of Older Persons in this regard located within the Target Groups directorate.
The scheduled Premier’s Dialogue with Older Persons is an important milestone in the establishment of Older Persons Forums at local, district and provincial levels as it will set a tone for rights-based approach in advocating for active participation and visibility of older persons in all matters that affect them.
The event is scheduled to take place as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 8 April 2014
Venue: Mbombela Stadium (Nelspruit)
Time: 10h00
All media is invited.
For confirmations, please contact:
Mokope Taiwe:
Tel: 013 766 2288
Cell: 082 802 8460
E-mail: mokope@mpg.gov.za
Vusi Ndlovu:
Tel: 013 766 3245
Cell: 072 353 3852
E-mail: Vusind@dsdmpu.gov.za
For media enquiries:
Nonkululeko Mbatha:
Tel: 013 766 2242
Cell: 083 645 6252
E-mail: mbathan@mpg.gov.za
Petunia Lessing:
Tel: 013 766 3685
Cell: 082 577 8780
E-mail: PetuniaL@dsdmpu.gov.za
