Programme Director and Honourable MEC of Social Development in KwaZulu-Natal,
Dr Meshach Radebe
Honourable Minister of Sports and Recreation, Reverend Makhenkesi Stofile
Honourable MEC of Social Development in the Eastern Cape, Mme Nonkosi Mvana
Representatives of civil society organisations
Community leaders and community members
Comrades and friends
Members of the media
Beloved parents and grandparents
Molweni. Sanibonani. Dumelang. Goeie more. Good morning.
It gives me great pleasure to join you here today on this joyous occasion of the 2009 Golden Games. From the outset I would like to acknowledge the organisers and the participants for making the 2009 Golden Games a huge success. I would also like to salute all those who have volunteered their time and expertise to these games.
It is a distinct pleasure to look out upon this audience and to see so many senior citizens, from different provinces participating in these games. Your very presence here invests this occasion with special meaning, for you truly represent wisdom and a bridge between our past, present and our future.
It is indeed a pleasure to join you during this historic month. Every year in October South Africa and the rest of the world celebrate the life and legacy of the late struggle icon, the late comrade Oliver Reginald Tambo. The name Oliver Tambo will always be inextricably linked to South Africa's struggle for freedom and the attainment of freedom. It was in this province in 1917 that "O R", as Oliver Tambo was popularly known, was born and went on to become one of the founding members of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) and President of the ANC.
It was Tambo who once said: "We have a vision of South Africa in which black and white shall live and work together as equals in conditions of peace and prosperity". Today, 65 years on and 16 years after his death, Oliver Tambo's legacy and visionary leadership still lives on.
Ladies and gentlemen
The most appropriate and fitting tribute we can give to Oliver Tambo is to cherish and advance the principles and ideas that he spent the better part of his life fighting for. To honour Tambo's legacy, government has declared October as Social Development Month. Throughout this month, the Department of Social Development (both at national and provincial levels) embarks on an intensive campaign to create greater public awareness of different services and programmes.
Key amongst these is programmes and services that promote the well being, independence, self fulfilment, intergenerational solidarity, active ageing and active participation of senior citizens in community life. The Golden Games is one such programme. The very timely theme of this year's Games "Active Ageing" signify our government's determination to enhance the recognition of the dignity of older persons and reaffirm our commitment to the vital work of upholding our Constitution by promoting their active participation in the development process.
Working together with the Department of Sports and Recreation, our long term plan is to facilitate the roll out of the Golden Games throughout the country.
I am therefore pleased to note that the games are growing in stature as the number of provinces and the number of participants in this year's Games has increased significantly. For us the Golden Games are far more than merely a sport festival for older persons. They are a social manifestation of our democratic values. The tenets of the Golden Games appeal because they educate us to devote more understanding, respect and support to older persons. Through the Golden Games, the humanitarian spirit is raised to new heights, and the cause for older persons is promoted far and wide.
As government we strongly believe that our senior citizens should be able to live in dignity and security and be treated with respect, regardless of gender, race, background, disability or other status. The Older Persons Act (2006) and the Madrid Plan of Action commit us to build a caring society in which older persons enjoy a life of fulfilment, health, security and active participation in the economic, social, cultural and political life of our society.
The Act seeks to:
* Shift the emphasis from institutional care to community based care in order to ensure that older persons remain in their communities of origin
* Provide the platform for older persons' participation in community life in any position appropriate to their interests and capabilities
* Ensure participation of older persons in intergenerational programmes and activities that enhance their income
* Ensure access by older persons to opportunities that promote their optimal level of social, physical, mental and emotional well being.
In terms of this Act family members and the community should be empowered to play an important role in the protection of older persons. Support systems for family care givers, as well as appropriate training should be a priority. Older persons should also be educated regarding their rights and empowered to report cases of abuse.
Ladies and gentlemen
The South African senior citizens have given a lifetime of dedication, hard work and sacrifice to our country. Accordingly, our government has and will continue to provide the necessary support for them to have dignified lives. Social Development is the lead government department in terms of providing services to older persons. These include the establishment and funding of Older Persons' Forum, Old Age Homes as well other developmental programmes that promote positive ageing.
As many of you will know, government has taken a step forward towards the equalisation of the old age grant between men and women. Let me hasten to add that this process will be implemented in a phased approach until both men and women of 60 years of age receive the old age grant.
Government has also embarked on a process of social security and retirement reform to ensure that older persons can enjoy a decent and secure retirement. Our determination is to create a comprehensive, inclusive retirement dispensation that will benefit the majority of South Africans.
The World Population report (2008) highlights that the world population will grow significantly older in the next coming years due to an increase in life expectancy. This demographic transformation will require that we put in place strategies to provide for the aging population. We therefore need to prepare now for a future in which more people will live longer in retirement. By undertaking the social security and retirement reform, we seek to do exactly that.
Once gain let me express my heartfelt gratitude to the organisers, volunteers and all participants in this year's Golden Games. Without all your support no single department would have been able to organise this important event. Ladies and gentlemen, please let us give all of them a warm applause for their invaluable support to this programme. We all enjoyed these games.
Programme Director, allow me to call on the business community to support my Department and the Department of Sports and Recreation in our efforts to raise sponsorship to assist as many as possible of older persons to participate in these Games next year.
In conclusion, I would like to congratulate all the winners and participants in this year’s Golden Games.
Honourable Ministers, please join me on stage to do the honour of presenting the medals to the winning teams.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Social Development
28 October 2009
Source: Department of Social Development (http://www.dsd.gov.za)
