The legendary grandmother Mrs Martha Mahlangu and mother of Solomon Mahlangu, the struggle hero who became the first MK Cadre to be hanged by the apartheid government joined scores of other Older Persons as she celebrated her 78th birthday, at the World Older Person’s Abuse Awareness Day organised by the Gauteng Department of Social Development recently.
The day started with a march by Older Persons carrying placards to highlight their plight and some of the messages were “please stop abusing Older Persons” and protect our rights”. When the Elders entered the hall one could experience an atmosphere of excitement as the crowd danced to Meadowlands, a popular song of the sixties performed by a band comprising of blind people from Itireleng Care Facility for the Blind.
Those on wheel chairs shook their heads uncontrollably, and waved their walking sticks as a sign of appreciation. Within a few minutes every one was sweating, jackets and shawls were lying all over the floor, as everyone was saying “kumnadi ukubala” meaning it’s nice to be here.
For Martha Mahlangu the day was very special as she turned 78, and received a blanket as a gift from the Gauteng MEC of Agriculture, Rural and Social Development Nandi Mayathula-Khoza. The soft spoken Gogo Martha as she is affectionately referred to by those closer to her said” I am shocked by the levels of abuse of children, women and Older Persons and the use of violence as a means of resolving problems and as a way of expressing service delivery dissatisfaction”
“Despite the creation of an Elder Abuse Notification Register in the 2011/12 financial year 321 cases of abuse were reported nationally, and of these 30 were registered in Gauteng. This low number of reported cases is shocking and misleading as it creates an impression that elderly abuse is not a serious problem in the Province.
I welcome and appreciate the contributions of all stakeholders towards the fight against Older Persons abuse. Let’s stop the abuse of the elderly and start showing more love and care.” said MEC.
For more details contact:
Sello Mokoena
cell: 082 331 0786
