LIMPOPO – The DA in the province is concerned about Premier Chupu Mathabatha and his cabinet’s absence at the Provincial Older Persons Sectoral Parliament that was hosted at the Legislature in Lebowakgomo last Friday.
According to DA provincial spokesperson on quality of life and status of women, children and persons with disabilities, Katlego Suzan Phala, it is not the first time that the premier and his cabinet “snubbed” an event of this nature.
“Sectoral parliaments serve as important participatory mechanisms to provide ordinary citizens the opportunity to voice their concerns and challenges and last week our seniors, who are still the most vulnerable in our societies especially in the rural areas, had the opportunity to debate concerns that directly affects them,” Phala said.
The topics on the order paper were, among others, excessive gambling by older persons, killings of older persons in relation to witchcraft, a shortage of medication in clinics, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia care for improved health and safety of older persons and lack of support for activities and entertainment of older persons.
“It is disappointing that Premier Mathabatha and the MEC’s for Health, Ledet, Sport, Arts and Culture and Transport and Community Safety were not present to listen and address issues directly affecting our elders as the motions that were debated were relevant to their portfolios,” Phala stressed and added that the plight of the elderly is not to be dishonoured and that the absence by ANC executives signalled a visible lack of interest and respect.
Provincial Government spokesperson Ndavhe Ramakuela confirmed that The Office of the Premier was represented at the parliament by relevant officials who took note of the issues that were raised and would respond to these timeously.
“The Office continues to work closely with the committee responsible to ensure that the programmes for those meetings and other sessions that would require the premier and members of the executive to attend personally are synchronised. So far the Office has not received any formal concern from the committee regarding the issue in question,” Ramakuela said and added that the premier has reiterated his respect for older persons and structures that are meant to represent them.
“It is for this reason that he was present at the committee meeting of September 28. Further, a provincial International Older Persons Day Celebrations was held in Mphegane Village, Sekhukhune District on October 1, which the MEC for Social Development officiated. It can’t be that the Provincial Government is said not to be interested in matters of older persons when it is championing such activities,” Ramakuela said.
The Office of the Premier, Department of Social Development, Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and the Department of Transport and Community Safety are also engaged in various programmes that deal with issues of older persons, women, youth and children.
“Reports that are required by the Committee are worked through by a team of administrators and where necessary, liaison with the committee to assist in setting them to the required format of the committee, Ramakuela said.
He concluded by saying that while political parties have a role to play, the issue that has been raised is somewhat “overstretched”.
