President Zuma to undertake return visit to Pretoria older persons home
President Jacob Zuma will tomorrow, 15 December 2015, undertake a return visit to the Lodewyk P. Spies Home in Eersterust, Pretoria, as part of promoting care and support for older persons.
In March 2015, President Zuma visited the facility to interact with senior citizens and assess the maintenance of the home as part of the President’s Imbizo Programme which was aimed at highlighting care and support for older persons in the country.
President Zuma encouraged residents to write stories about their personal lives from childhood and vowed to award those who would write best stories. The personal stories have been printed in a form of a booklet. The President will launch the booklet tomorrow as a way of encouraging senior citizens to write about their lives and experiences to build the country’s heritage.
Tomorrow the President will further assess progress made in implementing the interventions pronounced during his first visit in March 2015 where senior citizens as well as facility management raised a series of concerns including financial support, maintenance of the facility infrastructure as well as security issues.
Since the President’s visit government through the Department of Social Development has as allocated an amount of R 665 000 to address the challenges faced by the home. The department has purchased and delivered linen and office furniture; installed water basins, painted the whole home (inside and outside), replaced broken doors, windows and lights; fixed leaking roof, erected security wall around the home, installed gutters and tiled the administration room, bathrooms and toilets.
During this return visit President Zuma will also assess progress made in implementing government’s programmes pronounced during the Presidential Imbizo meeting in August 2015 which was aimed at addressing all forms of social-ills, particularly drug and substance abuse and crime, confronting the community of Eersterust, Mamelodi and surrounding townships.
Details of the event are as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 15 December 2016
Time: 12h00
Venue: Lodewyk P. Spies Home, Eersterust, Pretoria
