Garden boost for Gugulethu elderly home

Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Deputy Minister, Makgotso Sotyu, hands over blankets to the elderly.

Environment, Forestry and Fisheries Deputy Minister Makgotso Sotyu handed over gardening tools and blankets at Ikhaya Loxolo in Gugulethu on Friday August 23.

This comes after the old-age home made a call for help earlier this year. The home received 300 blankets, seeds and paint, and the department also planted trees, much to the delight of staff and residents.

Ms Sotyu said government applauded and appreciated the work the centre did to help the elderly, and her department wanted to ensure that the centre continued with that work, despite its many challenges.

It was important that senior citizens were not neglected at old age homes, but instead felt love and appreciation, she said.

“Families of senior citizens must take care of them. They have a bigger responsibility than government. They must take care of their parents and grandparents. Care and love is what they need especially in their old age,” she said.

Centre manager Nokongama Matiwane thanked the department for the donation and said it would ease their burden.

She said the centre’s roof needed to be replaced because not only did it leak but it was also made out of asbestos and posed a health hazard.

Former MP and Gugulethu resident Mandisa Matshoba said she had supported the centre’s call for assistance and she hoped the donation would make a difference in the lives of the residents.

Senior citizen Shiela Zokufa, said the donation showed the government had not forgotten about the home and she urged it to continue its support.