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The Speaker of Council, Councillor Vasco da Gama, has said a city that does not take care of its aged and vulnerable residents is doomed.
Addressing the elderly over lunch this week at in Eldorado Park, Cllr Da Gama said the City of Johannesburg had a caring and pro-poor government, which has the responsibility to take care of its most vulnerable residents.
“We are committed to ensure a clean governance and effective use of resources of this municipality in order to deliver quality and reliable services to you,” said Cllr Da Gama.
Elderly people from different forums and clubs in Region G filled the JD Opperman Hall in Eldorado Park to participate in the affairs of the City of Johannesburg and make their voice heard despite the difficulties that comes with ageing. Different chairpersons of the forums in the community presented their cases and made request for the City to assist wherever possible. This was yet another way the City affirmed its unwavering commitment to broaden and deepen support for senior citizens and to entrench their participation.
Adielah Lanie, a representative of Senior Citizens Forum, mentioned issues like spiritual, physical and emotional abuse senior citizens are experiencing daily and pleaded for help and counselling for the elderly by the City.
Cllr Da Gama told the elderly that the City does not want to reduce them to mere recipients of social security packages but encouraged them to be active members in their own communities who participate in various platforms to effect positive change in their communities.
Social Services co-ordinator in the region explained how they can benefit from the senior citizens’ programmes in place for them in the City. The services are free of charge. In the effort to combat poverty among senior citizens, the City has various poverty relief and empowerment initiatives driven by Department of Health and Social Development.
In closing, Cllr Da Gama encouraged all the forums to continue in the work in making a difference despite numerous challenges. He urged all the chairperson of the forums in the region to work closely with the City co-ordinators for the elderly in the region.
