LESOTHO SEEKS INSIGHTS FROM SOUTH AFRICA’S OLD AGE HOME SYSTEMS ON BILATERAL LEARNING MISSION

By Precious Mupenzi

• Recognising South Africa’s progress in social development and the care and protection of older persons, Lesotho’s Ministry of Gender, Youth, and Social Development is on a learning visit to South Africa to gain insights into managing government-owned old age homes and implementing similar services in Lesotho.
• Led by Principal Secretary Ms. Mahlapane Makakole-Bodiba, the Lesotho delegation is studying South Africa’s systems for elderly care, from establishment and governance to day-to-day management, with the aim of creating a sustainable, government-run old age home in Lesotho.
• The visit coincides with key legislative developments in South Africa, such as the domestication of the Protocol on the Rights of Older Persons and amendments to the Older Persons Act, offering Lesotho additional guidance on policy formulation and elder care practices.

South Africa’s advancements in social development policies, particularly in services for older persons, have made the country a benchmark for many African nations, including the Kingdom of Lesotho. Recognising South Africa’s strides in elder care and social welfare management, Lesotho’s Ministry of Gender, Youth, and Social Development is on a learning visit to South Africa from 2–5 September 2024 in Pretoria.

The Lesotho delegation is currently engaging in bilateral discussions with South Africa’s Department of Social Development, led by Acting Director-General Mr. Peter Netshipale, and is visiting four old age homes in Gauteng. Represented by Principal Secretary and Head of Delegation Ms. Mahlapane Makakole-Bodiba, the knowledge-sharing mission aims to gather insights on the management of government-owned old age homes, with the goal of implementing similar services in Lesotho.

“In response to the growing ageing population, driven in part by increased life expectancy, the Kingdom of Lesotho has made it a priority to enhance and strengthen interventions and systems that cater to the needs of older persons, ensuring they can enjoy their golden years with dignity. To achieve this, the Ministry has embarked on establishing a government-owned old age home to provide essential care for those in need,” says Principal Secretary Ms. Mahlapane Makakole-Bodiba.

“We believe South Africa has significant expertise and best practices in this area. Our aim is to observe how South Africa’s well-established programmes offer care and support to older persons at various stages of ageing,” she further explained.

“The overall objective of our study tour is to gain in-depth knowledge from both government and privately-owned old age homes. We seek to understand their establishment, governance, day-to-day administration, and how they are supported and supervised by the government. This will help us shape the development of Lesotho’s first government-run old age home, ensuring we provide comprehensive care, protection, and dignity to our older population,” she added.

By learning from South Africa’s successful systems, Ms. Makakole-Bodiba emphasised the importance of integrating responsive care models that address the diverse needs of older persons. She further noted that this initiative would guide Lesotho in building its capacity to manage such facilities effectively.

“South Africa’s approach will provide valuable insights into the professional care required to support the elderly at different stages of ageing, helping us to shape sustainable policies back home,” she said.

This exchange highlights the strong partnership between the two nations in enhancing social services and demonstrates Lesotho’s commitment to improving the care and protection of its ageing population through insights from South Africa’s successful models.

“The Ministry of Gender, Youth, and Social Development is mandated to care for, support, and protect vulnerable and marginalised groups: children, youth, women, older persons, and persons with disabilities. Across all these life course stages, there are needs and challenges which require more comprehensive programming with responsive interventions and initiatives,” noted Ms. Makakole-Bodiba.

The visit by the Lesotho delegation to South Africa’s Department of Social Development comes at a crucial time, coinciding with key legislative advancements in the country. On 16 May 2024, the National Assembly approved the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Older Persons in Africa. This followed presentations by the Department of Social Development to the Select Committee on Social Development on 29 November 2023 and the Portfolio Committee on Social Development on 2 May 2024.

The Protocol, endorsed under Section 231(2) of the South African Constitution, has now been incorporated into the Older Persons Amendment Bill for domestication, pending final approval by the Minister of Social Development before its implementation. Additionally, the Department of Social Development is in the process of amending the Older Persons Act 13 of 2006. The revised bill was approved by the Portfolio Committee on 27 March 2024 and subsequently by the National Assembly on 9 May 2024.

Currently under review by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), the bill is being evaluated by the Select Committee on Social Services as part of the ongoing legislative process in the 7th Administration. The committee will deliberate on the bill on 4 September 2024, after which it will be presented for public hearings before being returned to the National Assembly for final approval. Once passed, the bill will be submitted to the President for promulgation