Army cleans up old age home
Captain Cynthia Zondo led a team of 50 soldiers to help clean and maintain the buildings at Tsakane Old Age Home on Tuesday, as their 67min for Mandela contribution.
Tsakane – Captain Cynthia Zondo led a team of 50 soldiers to help clean and maintain the buildings at Tsakane old age home on Tuesday, as part of their 67min for Mandela contribution.
“We will spend more than 67 minutes cleaning, painting doors, cooking and even doing the garden for them, and we are ready to work,” explained Cpt Zondo from 35 Engineer Support Regiment at the Dunnottar Military Base.
The centre currently hosts 31 permanent residents.
“As a community, we tend to neglect our elders.
Today we wanted them to feel that even though they are here, not with their families, we want to show them that we still care.”
Cpt Zondo adds that some of the elders at the centre do not see their relatives much through the year.
“It is not even about helping the centre by cleaning the premises but bonding with them individually. “
Centre Manager Phoko Mokubung, says it makes a huge difference to the residents to see people visiting because they don’t get that many visitors
“Just for them to see younger people who are vibrant makes them feel young again.”
Mokubung adds that the army’s contribution will uplift the building.
“The building is not new, we need thorough renovations here. Roofs, beds and bedding. It’s all old”
He says that the centre has been a safe haven for the elders.
“To be fair and honest they are better off here than in some of the homes they came from.”
He explains that it is the community who refers the pensioners to management who then, with the help of a social worker, conduct a home visit.
“They really come from bad conditions.
For some of them this is like a hotel because they are treated so much better here.
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