Our esteemed guests - our Senior Citizens,

Premier of Gauteng, Ms Nomvula Mokonyane,

Minister of Social Development Ms Bathabile Dlamini

Minister in the Presidency Mr Collins Chabane,

Minister of Police, Mr Nathi Mthethwa,

Minister of Home Affairs, Ms Naledi Pandor,

Minister of Women, Children and Persons with Disability, Ms LuluXingwana,

Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi,

Premier of North West, Ms Thandi Modise,

Deputy Minister for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, MrAndries Nel,

Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Ms Nandi Mayathula Khoza,

MEC for Social Development in the Eastern Cape, Ms Pammy Majodina,

Representatives of the Tshwane Municipality,

The acting Chairperson of the South African Older Persons Forum, MsKetse and Executive Members,

Fellow South Africans,

 

Dumelang, Sanibonani, Avuxeni, Molweni, Ndaa, Good morning, Goeie more.

 

Let me extend a warm welcome to all our older persons from all nine provinces, to this annual Older Persons Luncheon and to the launch of National Older Persons Week.

It is always a wonderful occasion to be amongst the senior citizens of our country! We are very happy to be surrounded by so much wisdom, experience and expertise.

We get together around this time each year, to reaffirm that our senior citizens are important to this country and should be taken seriously!

 

That is why we are today launching National Older Persons Week which will be observed until 6 October 2013.

Key milestones during the week ahead will be the celebration of the International Day of Older Persons on the 1stof October, which was designated by the United Nations in 1990.

 

The second important day is Grandparents Day which is celebrated on the first Sunday of October, which will be 6 October this year.

This year’s theme as designated by the United Nations is “The future we want, what older persons say’’.  Therefore all activities during Older Persons Week must focus on this theme.

The theme emphasises the importance of involving older persons in decisions making and to involve them in the development of policies that affect senior citizens. It should be noted that older persons are capable of deciding what is best for them.

 

Government departments nationally and provincially will roll out national celebrations and dialogues that will focus on the role, rights and well-being of older persons in society and celebrate their contribution to the South Africa we live in.

 

We urge faith based organisations and non-governmental organisations to also host programmes to take forward the campaign of promoting dignity and respect of older persons.

 

Sihlangenenamhlanje ukuzobungaza abantu abadala basezweni lethu, nokugqugquzela ukuthiizwe lonke libahloniphe abantu abadala, neminyango kahulumeni isebenze kangconoukwenza impilo yabadala ibe ngcono.

Yingakhosizogubha isonto lonke elizayo kube nemicimbi eqhakambisa izinto ezithintaabantu abadala.

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

Esteemed senior citizens,

 

The good story about South Africa is that life expectancy is growing  and people are living longer.

 

For example, we have increased life expectancy with an average of five years due to successful government health and anti-poverty programmes.

In 2011 life expectancy at birth was estimated at 54 years for males and59 for females. This increase in life expectancy is expected to continue and the number of persons over 60 will increase in the next coming years.

 

It is an achievement for most of you to have lived as long as you have especially given the conditions under which the majority of our older persons lived for many years under apartheid colonialism.

While life has improved considerably in the country, we do know as well that older persons are vulnerable to poverty.

However, another good story is that during the last nineteen years we have achieved a significant reduction of chronic poverty, especially amongst our senior citizens.  

 

Most of the achievements in reducing extreme levels of income poverty can be ascribed to government’s comprehensive social protection programme.

This programme includes social grants such as the old age pension grant as well as access to free education and primary health care for the poorest and the provision of free basic services to indigent members of our society. 

 

We have 16 million persons currently receiving social grants. Of this number, over eleven million is children, three million is senior citizens who receive the Old Age Grant and a further 531 receive the War Veterans Grant.

 

We have also extended the reach of old age grant by enabling men to obtain the grant at the age of 60 instead of 65.

We have also made it possible for older persons who care for their grandchildren or children in need of care to receive Foster Care Grant.

We are also happy to inform you that government is preparing to phaseout the means test for the old age grant. We believe we will be ready to do so by the year 2016.

Many older persons, especially women, have been adversely affected by the means test which assumes that they benefit from the income of their spouses or partners or have other income when in most cases they do not.

 

Phasing out the means test will thus be an important intervention because more money in the hands of grandmothers is always welcome. Such money is more than likely to be invested in the welfare of the household and grandchildren.

 

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dear senior citizens

 

As government we are also concerned about the health of older persons.

As people get older, chronic diseases such as high blood pressure (high high) and diabetes tend to increase. The illnesses, plus disability that results from them, adds an extra burden to our older persons. 

 

According to Statistics South Africa, 55% of our older persons over 70years of age struggle with chronic diseases and 35% have some kind of disability.

Let me remind you all that you can go to clinics and hospitals and be treated for free. You are entitled to the free primary health care package from government.

Older persons receiving the old age pension also qualify for equipment if they develop a disability.

 

Government is also improving the primary health care programme to include home and community based services to older persons who are unable to live independently.  We already have onompilo or health care workers who visit older persons at home and other citizens with chronic illnesses as part of government’s caring primary health care programme.

 

We are doing all this because older persons must be healthy and continue to contribute to the development of the country and to society in general.

We are also pleased that our innovative management of HIV and AIDS is reducing the burden on older persons.

 

In the past few years, older persons had to fulfill the role of carers to family members suffering from HIV related illnesses and to look after orphans resulting from this pandemic.

 

Fortunately South Africa now has the biggest HIV treatment programme in the world and so the numbers of people dying from AIDS and hence the numbers of older persons that have to take care of orphaned and vulnerable children is decreasing.

 

Compatriots

 

Government will continue to improve the health of older persons. But we also urge older persons to play their own role as well to improve their health.

We urge you to follow a healthy lifestyle by becoming physically active such as talking a walk daily and also by refraining from drinking alcohol or smoking.

Some of you would be aware of the Golden Games for Older Persons programme of government. The annual Golden Games are a platform for older persons from all nine provinces to display their talents in sport, indigenous games, fun games and show case traditional or cultural activities.

 

But you don’t need to wait for the golden games, it is very important that you lead a healthy life-style, test for various diseases and to take  the medicines given every day at the right time.

Let me congratulate all the centenarians present here. There can be no bigger human achievement than living to the ripe age of 100!

I also wish to express my sincere appreciation to the military veterans in our midst today.

 

Over the years, through the selfless contribution and sacrifice of our veterans during the liberation struggle, we achieved our freedom and have made significant progress as a nation.

 

We thank you therefore for keeping the flames of our liberation struggle burning during the apartheid years.

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Ladies and gentlemen

 

We cannot conclude this occasion without referring to the issue of abuse and negligence of senior citizens in our country. This violation constitutes a serious infringement of the human rights of our senior citizens.

Government is working hard to ensure that incidents such as the recent attacks on our senior citizens in some parts of our country do not happen again.

But we need families and communities to work with us through ensuring that no older persons are left without care and support especially those who are frail.

 

We urge all our citizens to report the abuse of older persons to social workers and the police immediately. Such crimes should not be tolerated.

I have also been assured that visits are conducted to old age homes by the police to determine that the elderly are still safe and are not abused by their care givers.

 

Ladies and gentlemen

 

As part of honouring our promise to promote and protect the rights of all our senior citizens, the President's Coordinating Council in which the President meets with Premiers and local government, took a decision to mainstream services to older persons and ensure that the President and Premiers take a keen interest in their wellbeing and programmes.

 

That is why we feel it important to launch National Older Persons Week at the level of the Presidency.

The Department of Social Development nationally and provincially will coordinate this process and ensure that we all prioritise older persons within government.

 

Ladies and gentlemen

Fellow South Africans,

 

In launching this important campaign, we recall the wise words of one of our own beloved senior citizens, Tata Nelson Mandela and I quote:

“A society that does not value its older people denies its roots and endangers its future. Let us strive to enhance their capacity to support themselves for as long as possible and, when they cannot do so anymore, to care for them”.

 

These are wise words which continue to guide our actions. As a nation ,our thoughts and prayers are with Madiba and his family as we wish him a complete and restful recovery and a longer life.

We also pledge yet again on behalf of all South Africans, our undying love and compassion to Madiba.

 

Compatriots,

 

As much as people celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, we are saying to the nation that we want older persons as well to be granted similar attention and appreciation.

 

We urge children and the youth to begin planning for Grandparents Day next Sunday and prepare to spend quality time with their grandparents!

Let us all work hard to make National Older Persons Week a success!

 

I thank you.