GAUTENG URGED TO PRIORITISE OLDER PERSONS ON ALLOCATION OF HOUSING AND ISSUING OF TITLE DEEDS

By Lawrence Mashabela

• As people age, secure housing become essential for their wellbeing, dignity and security, the Gauteng team told the national dialogue at the National Active Ageing event in Rustenburg, North West.
• The issue of allocating housing and title deeds was crucial for the wellbeing of older persons, Lebogang Mohulatsi from Gauteng’s central corridor, told the gathering.
• The increasing population of older persons in Gauteng requires urgent interventions when it comes to housing and title deed challenges, she added.

On the first day of the national Golden Games Gauteng’s senior citizens called for the prioritisation of older persons for housing allocation and the issuing of title deeds

This call was made during the dialogue at the Rustenburg Civic Centre, where each province was given the opportunity to express themselves on matters affecting older persons, and how they would like to be treated.

Lebogang Mohulatsi from Gauteng’s central corridor, Soweto and surrounds, said the issue of allocating housing and title deeds was crucial for the wellbeing of elderly people.

Many still faced the challenges of living in unsafe houses, lack of home ownership, and financial instability – especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, Mohulatsi said.

She added that South Africa is becoming an ageing society that is not immune from the burden of diseases that can cause disability to an increase in age-related chronic diseases. For this reason, older persons needed to be prioritised.

“As people age, secure housing becomes essential for their wellbeing, dignity and security,” said Mohulatsi.

The increasing population of older persons in Gauteng requires urgent interventions when it comes to housing and title deed challenges. Older persons need to have secure houses in the latter part of their lives, Mohulatsi added.

She also highlighted that older persons in South Africa face many challenges, including gender-based violence and femicide. 

Day one of the 2025 National Active Ageing Programme being held from 18 – 20 February 2025 in the North West Province, concluded with a choral music festival, where participants were given the opportunity to showcase their singing talent as they represented their respective provinces.

Day two sees the start of the sporting activities ranging from soccer, athletics, the brisk walk, the ball relay, and jukskei.