Community spends time with the vulnerable
The community committee of Deep Levels section in KwaThema took time to spoil senior citizens and disabled people with lunch on Tuesday.
KwaThema – The community committee of Deep Levels section in KwaThema took time to spoil senior citizens and disabled people with lunch on Tuesday.
Chairperson of the committee Elizabeth Mkhwebane, who coordinated the day, explains that the elderly and the disabled are often neglected by the community.
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“This day is to honour and to say thank you and we love you, our elderly citizens and those who are disabled.
“We want them to feel a part of our community and know that they also contribute positively in our society.
“We are who we are because of them. They have been playing parental roles to us when we were young, and, to this day, they still provide that same love to our children,” says Mkhwebane.
She adds that the youth need to be educated on how best to treat senior citizens, and families who have disabled members need not hide their loved ones.
“Young people often forget the wisdom and knowledge they can get from old people, which is why I want to urge our young people to take time out of their busy schedule and mingle with their grandparents.
“When it comes to the disabled, in most cases, they are locked in their homes. Today, we wanted to do something which will excite them and which will give them an opportunity to dress up and get some fresh air with people from their own community as a sign of love,” she says.
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The event was attended by the KwaThema Customer Care Centre manager, Andries Nkabinde, and KwaThema Police Station personnel.
“Our elderly face lots of challenges in their homes. Some have to care for their grandchildren with their social grant money and some are being abused by their grandchildren as well. It might not be physically, but definitely emotionally. We have heard of numerous disheartening cases.
“My biggest wish is to have such a day for all our elderly citizens and the disabled throughout KwaThema, for them to have a day where they are appreciated and showered with love, care and surrounded by people who genuinely have love for them,” says Nkabinde.
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