Over 100 senior citizens gathered at Isivivana centre in Khayelitsha last Tuesday, May 7, when NPO Ilitha Labantu held a programme entitled “Celebrating 30 years of democracy and 35 years of Ilitha Labantu’s Resilience”.
Ilitha Labantu clinical manager, Nontsikelelo Sigege, said the event aimed to give senior citizens a platform to voice their concerns.
Ms Sigege said the programme was designed in a way that made senior citizens feel loved, appreciated and cared for.
“We want them to speak about their challenges freely and try to get solutions. Elderly abuse occurs and we want to provide counselling for that. Rape is one of the issues that they have raised which is their biggest challenge.
“In some cases, their children run away with their grandchildren’s social grant and leave a child with them. We want them to know that they have a place to cry at and get help from,” she said.
Senior citizen Ntombizondwa Kilithi said she has learnt that she must not be afraid to stand up for her rights.
The 75-year-old grandmother said such engagements are important as they deal with emotional wellbeing.
However, Nkosinathi Phoswayo said he sees no benefit of such programmes as they do not offer any real solutions and described it as a talk shop.
He said when the programme is over things will still be the same and nothing is going to change.
Another senior citizen, Solomon Frans, said they are treated unpleasantly as seniors.
The 80-year-old Khayelitsha resident said at his age he must wake up around 4am in the morning when he has to go to the offices of South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) at Kuyasa library.
He said even police officers at times do not give them decent service when they report cases of being abused by their children and grandchildren.
