Alex’s ‘Mother Teresa’ vows to take her concerns for the elderly to Parliament
ALEXANDRA – The diminutive Mother Teresa of Alex wants Parliament to know what happens inside the defensive walls of houses.
Alexandra’s ‘Mother Teresa’ Dr Marjorie Manganye has vowed to take her concerns about the plight of the elderly to Parliament next year.
Manganye, who turns 90 on 31 January next year, raised these concerns when she was expressing her gratitude to ANC treasurer-general Paul Mashatile who turned ‘Father Christmas’ and came bearing gifts and food parcels for the elderly of Itlhokomeleng Old Age Home in Alexandra.
“I want to go to Cape Town next year to take my concerns about the plight of the elderly to Parliament. I want to speak for the old people and the problems they face in their respective communities. Baya hlupheka abantu abadala [elderly people are suffering so much] in their townships.
“They are being abused at home, in the streets, in public offices and everywhere and now they don’t even know where to turn to. I want to tell this to Parliamentarians and hope they will do something about it,” she said.
She added that the elderly were being abused by their grown-up children, grandchildren and in certain instances relatives that have been entrusted with the responsibility of caring after them.
“Their grant monies are taken away from them, they are not well fed, they are neglected and in some instances even beaten up when they don’t comply with an order, which may also involve a demand for their grant money.
“Life is not what it presents itself to be from the face of it. These people are really suffering and something needs to be done, and done urgently, hence my desire to go and address Parliament on their behalf next year.
“I want Parliament and all the people to know the terrible things that happen behind those defensive walls of the houses,” said the diminutive Manganye, who often cracks the joke that dynamite comes in small packages.
