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International year of Older persons
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Speeches and Media Releases
 Welfare

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SPEECH FOR THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF OLDER PERSONS

PRESENTED BY THE MEC

FOR WELFARE

MS NCUMISA KONDLO

30 JULY 1999



Master of Ceremonies,
Our elderly people,
 South African Council of the Aged,
 Representatives from NGOS and CBOs,
 Representatives from different government departments,
Honoured guests,
 Ladies and gentlemen,

I feel honoured and privileged to be part of an occasion of this magnitude. Let me also take it upon myself to applaud the South African 
Council for the Aged, CBOs and NGOs for forging such a good partnership with government. Together we will realise our objective which is 
to change the lives of our people including those of the elderly.

The General Assembly of the United Nations took a resolution that 1999 should be observed as the International Year of Older Persons and 
the theme for the International Year is "towards a society for all ages". This theme signifies a fundamental paradigm shift towards older 
persons as valued and equal members of society, with emphasis on social justice and integration.

Our elderly people have an important role to play by occupying the frontline trenches in the process of building our country anew from the 
morass of apartheid.

With the dawn of democracy this country had also to rethink and review many policies including the one on ageing. A new policy framework on 
ageing has been developed which recognised the role government as well as other sectors such as families and communities and non 
governmental organisations have to play in the management of ageing. This collaboration with all the stakeholders involved in the care of 
the elderly became necessary due to the following factors.

* High percentage of Welfare budget which is spent on residential care benefiting only a small minority of the ageing population.
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* The inequality in the provision of services to disadvantaged communities and the lack of community based services.
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* The need to be aligned with the overall programme of reconstruction and development.
* The need for a paradigm shift to developmental approach as reflected in the White Paper.
* This involves moving away from expensive models of care to more affordable models of community based care.
The International Year of Older has been launched, a series of workshops on elder abuse have been held throughout the Province. Other 
activities on the in planning include the Millennium Walk which will provide older persons and their families with the opportunity to 
become aware of the benefits of healthy living and active leisure. The security campaign will ensure their safety within their houses and 
pay points.

Literacy Day - Elderly will visit libraries in their localities. There will also be Mayoral Teas across the province that is scheduled for 
October. There will also be Operation respect, to instil dignity and respect for the elderly.

The Government on its own can never tackle any social problem with out the assistance from NGOs and CBOs. A special mention of the South 
African Council for the Aged should be made, there has been great co-operation between this body and the Department.

NGOs and CBOs are indispensable and play a very crucial role as engines in this whole paradigm shift. They therefore operate as an arm of 
the government in many programmes.

In my opening I have acknowledge the role that these organisations have played and plead with them to continue with that spirit to build 
this ailing nation. We know that you operate under difficult financial constraints to provide for the elderly and your zeal and 
determination has never been dampened at any stage.

We, in the Welfare Department want to ensure the implementation of a policy which encourages our senior citizens to continue as valuable 
members of society for as long as they are able.

Men and women of our country need to retire to some rest and tranquillity of their families where their input and wisdom can be appreciated 
by their generations. Our elderly have emerged as conquerors of trials and tribulations that they went through ranging from wars, poverty, 
refugees and violation of their human dignity.

We need a society in which older people are fully integrated and acknowledged as a source of potential expertise. The government will not 
deviate from the UN principle because by so doing it will fail the noble citizens of our beloved country.

We need to recognise our senior citizens as a pool of talent with expertise and wisdom to pass on to younger generations.

The challenge before all of us is to work together in making this year of Older Persons a success in every community in our country. Let us 
ensure that our older persons are treated with dignity, love and respect. Let a society for all ages be our reality.

I thank you



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