HONOURING THE PAST, BUILDING THE FUTURE: MEC SHINGA HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF OLDER PERSONS IN NATION-BUILDING

By Mthobisi Mbhanjwa

• ⁠105-year-old Gogo Manobela Luthuli in uMzumbe, Ugu District was visited on Freedom Day to honour her contribution as a senior citizen to community resilience and social cohesion.
• “Through their sacrifices, they laid the groundwork for the freedoms we now enjoy. It is our duty not only to protect them, but to ensure their continued involvement in community development.” MEC Mbali Shinga
• The Department currently implements a range of programmes targeting the needs of older persons—many of whom remain deeply involved in caregiving, cultural preservation, and intergenerational support.

As South Africa marked Freedom Day, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development used the occasion to spotlight the invaluable role of senior citizens in shaping democratic South Africa. MEC for Social Development, Ms Mbali Shinga, visited 105-year-old Gogo Manobela Luthuli in uMzumbe, Ugu District, to honour her contribution to community resilience and social cohesion.

The visit formed part of a broader departmental effort to promote active ageing and reaffirm the rights of older persons as enshrined in the Senior Citizens’ Charter. The Charter mandates the protection, participation, and dignity of older persons in all spheres of society.

“Senior citizens like Gogo Luthuli are living archives of our heritage and struggle,” MEC Shinga said during the visit. “Through their sacrifices, they laid the groundwork for the freedoms we now enjoy. It is our duty not only to protect them, but to ensure their continued involvement in community development.”

The Department currently implements a range of programmes targeting the needs of older persons—many of whom remain deeply involved in caregiving, cultural preservation, and intergenerational support.

These include:

•⁠ ⁠Community-based care and support services, particularly in rural areas like uMzumbe;

•⁠ ⁠Awareness and educational campaigns focused on the rights and protection of older persons;

•⁠ ⁠Active ageing initiatives that encourage physical, mental, and social well-being in later life.

Social workers from the local office, alongside Ward Councillor Mr Sibonelo Maphumulo, accompanied the MEC.

Their presence emphasized the importance of integrated local government support in improving service delivery to senior citizens.

MEC Shinga stressed that Freedom Day must be more than a ceremonial occasion. “It should be a time for reflection on how we include our elders in our vision for development. True freedom is achieved when the most vulnerable,like our older citizens—are empowered, heard, and valued.”