The North West Provincial Legislature hosted its annual Older Persons’ Parliament at the Legislature Chamber.
About 400 elders from all four districts including relevant stakeholders that deal directly with the welfare of senior citizens ranging from Non-governmental Organisations (NGO’s), Community- Based Organisations (CBO’S); Sangoco; Sangala attended the auspicious event.
The event themed, “recreational opportunities for the aged in enhancing the quality of life,” aimed to facilitate participation of senior citizens and evaluate progress made in entrenching democratic values; to raise sharp debates around equality, uphold democracy as well as facilitate a direct oversight exercise involving the Legislature, the Executive and the electorate in one sitting.
Ms. Manko Mabel Legoale from Ngaka Modiri Molema, who presented on activities for the elderly; mentioned that the elderly do not get full support from their respective councillors and mayors at municipalities, their programmes are not recognised and that there is no funding support for their service clubs.
“We have been representing the North West Province for the past three years nationally at the Golden Games, and we haven’t received any support from the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, “We urge that the our province recognise us and the impact that we have in the elderly’s lives, we look like we are lost sheep when other elders wearing their beautiful uniforms to represent their provinces, whilst we have nothing” said Ms. Legoale.
She mentioned that older persons’ need to be given the opportunity to participate at the South African National Games and Leisure Activities. (SANGALA) “Many of us are not included in this forum and we want to be part of it so as to raise our opinions and ideas to make the lives our fellow elders better,” said Ms. Legoale Mr. Mogapi Maruping who presented on enhancing older persons’ quality of life, mentioned that the department of Health fails to visit the elderly regularly in communities and to supply the local clinics with medication.
He said that the elderly should be self sufficient and not always rely on government resources to make their lives better.
“We encourage the elderly to take part in service clubs to keep themselves busy to improve their lives,”said Mr. Maruping.
Hon. Veronica Kekesi and MEC Mokomele-Mothibi welcomed all issues raised at the event and made a promise to look into all the issues raised.
Hon. Kekesi made the following recommendations; that SANGALA should make an effort to reach all elders across the province and educate them about their programmes; the portfolio committees on Health, Social Development, Women, Children and People with Disabilities should initiate programmes for the elderly and that municipalities who disregard the elders in their programmes should be called in to account before the Legislature.
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