BRINGING DIGNITY HOME: MINISTER TOLASHE MARKS MANDELA DAY WITH ELDERS IN HOMETOWN KOMANI

By Cuma Pantshwa.

• Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe started her Nelson Mandela Day outreach visit to Komani in the Eastern Cape by honouring the elderly citizens of the country.
• “It is you who carried this country under very difficult circumstances; it is you who know your pain,” Minister Tolashe told the residents of the John Vorster Old Age Home.
• Two special people were honoured during the minister’s visit: 106-year-old Gogo Franscina Kama and 105-year-old Gogo Ntombana Tyeni.

This Mandela Day, Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe began her community outreach in a profoundly symbolic way – honouring the elderly citizens who carried South Africa through its most difficult and transformative moments.

Together with her delegation, her first stop was at the John Vorster Old Age Home in Komani, formerly known as Queenstown, where she brought warm blankets and a message of deep appreciation, inclusion, and love.

“I really want to come closer to the elderly to convey this message to you. It is you who has brought us where we are now; it is you who carried this country under very difficult circumstances; it is you who know your pain,” said Minister Tolashe.

“We are not doing you any favour, rather we are here to say thank you because there is no nation or home that is elder-less. You are the people who have been steering the ship through very difficult times. We need your wisdom.”

The visit set the tone for a full Nelson Mandela Day outreach programme. His birthday, 18 July, has been set aside globally to commemorate his life and legacy.

During this warm engagement at the home, the minister also acknowledged that some of the elderly are not in care homes by choice. “We know that some of you are here not by choice, but because our elderly are abused, neglected, and are not cared for or given the love you deserve.”

Special recognition for wisdom, resilience, and good health

In a touching highlight of the visit, two centenarian residents – 106-year-old Franscina Kama and 105-year-old Ntombana Tyeni – were given special honour and recognition.

What makes their stories even more remarkable is their continued good health. At 105, Tyeni is not on any chronic medication and lives independently, without the need for daily assistance – a quiet but extraordinary example of strength and longevity.

Over 80 elders are under the care of the John Vorster Old Age Home.

Following the symbolic gesture of gifting blankets, the two elderly women joyfully expressed their heartfelt gratitude.

“We feel seen. This visit made us feel remembered and special again,” said one of them, beaming with pride.

Honouring caregivers and strengthening families

Minister Tolashe also expressed her deep appreciation for the caregivers and staff at the John Vorster Old Age Home, thanking them for their daily commitment to the dignity and well-being of older persons.

“We appreciate the responsibility that this centre carries. As the Department of Social Development, we will continue to partner with this centre, and all your needs have been heard,” she said.

She emphasised that while institutions like these play a critical role, there is also an urgent need to strengthen families as the first line of support and care for the elderly.

The economic weight carried by the elderly

The significance of older persons in the social and economic fabric of local communities was further emphasised by the regional executive manager of the Eastern Cape South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), Bandile Maqetuka.

“SASSA pays out R398-million every month in this area alone, that’s how deep the impact of social grants runs, even in smaller communities like those in the Chris Hani Municipal District.

“The largest portion of our investment in the Chris Hani District goes to the elderly. They carry the heaviest load, yet often stretch their grant to support entire households,” Maqetuka said.

Policy commitment to the rights and well-being of older persons

The visit also comes at a significant moment in the department’s policy journey.

The Older Persons Amendment Bill, which aims to strengthen the rights, safety, and care of older people, has been adopted by both houses of parliament and now awaits the president’s assent.

“This Bill is not just a legal document, it’s our social contract with the elderly,” said the director in the department’s Older Persons Directorate, Civil Legodu.

The Bill follows an extensive national consultation process, including public hearings, interdepartmental briefings, and direct engagement with older persons.

Legodu explained that the departments have been working together to align their roles, with consensus reached on the key issues of care, reporting, and accountability.

Fighting elder abuse through law and action

The department has also prioritised elder abuse prevention through the protocol on the management of elder abuse, with training already conducted in provinces including the Eastern Cape.

However, under-reporting remains a major obstacle.

“We cannot confirm the true extent of elder abuse because many cases are not reported,” Legodu explained. “The new Bill and its regulations will strengthen the response to abuse and promote full use of the Older Persons Abuse Register to track and manage cases effectively.”

A Mandela Day rooted in love and legacy

Minister Tolashe’s visit to the John Vorster Old Age Home was a homecoming rooted in love, gratitude, and a shared determination to change the lives of older persons across the country.