Although a cruder version of the Roodepoort Older Persons Forum (ROPF) came into being in 2014, it is only a little more than a year ago that they got into the full swing of things.
The aim of the ROPF is to collaborate with other institutions with a similar vision, namely to secure, uphold and support the well-being of the older person as per the Older Persons Act 13 of 2006. The government has sanctioned the ROPF to also act as a kind of “ombudsman” who can mediate issues surrounding older persons.
According to their constitution, their objectives are as follows:
• To promote the Norms and Standards in terms of the Older Persons Act, Act 13 of 2006 and the Batho Pele principles of service delivery;
• To serve the interests of the Older Persons with honesty and respect, open-mindedness and in an unbiased and unprejudiced manner;
• To facilitate and assist, when invited to do so, with the institution of a democratically elected residence committee in every older persons’ facility.
• To serve and protect the interest of each and every older person as set out in section 20 of Act 13 of 2006.
• To guide and assist local residential committees, as they may require.
• To promote and encourage mutual participation and coordination among inhabitants of all older persons’ facilities, and the respective residence committees and other associations as well as the ROPF.
• To strive towards, and establish, a healthy, open two-way communication channel between the ROPF and the West Rand Older Persons’ Forum.
The ROPF relies heavily on government grants and donations. A good example of this is the donation of 30x10kg bags of rice from the African Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce to the ROPF yesterday, 19 February. The ROPF will in turn distribute the rice to other organisations with similar aims, old age homes and retirement villages.
Any member of the public who would like to get involved or make donations can contact Fanie le Roux on 082 770 8843.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at roodepoortrecord@caxton.co.za (remember to include your contact details) or phone us on 011 955 1130.
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