NW MEC DANTJIE CELEBRATES MANDELA DAY THROUGH ACTS OF SERVICE

• ⁠The elderly residents of the Sonop Old Age Home in the Madibeng Local Municipality found that their chef of the day was North West Social Development MEC Basetsana Sussana Dantjie.
• The MEC was spending time on Nelson Mandela International Day, on 18 July, with the residents of the facility.
• MEC Dantjie paid tribute to the late icon for playing an important role in ensuring that the elderly regain their dignity by receiving equal services.

The North West Social Development MEC, Basetsana Sussana Dantjie, rolled up her sleeves and joined cooks to prepare a decent meal for the elderly at the state-run Sonop old age complex in the Madibeng Local Municipality on Friday, 18 July 2025.

Dantjie’s gesture was part of her observance of Nelson Mandela International Day, which calls on individuals and organisations to dedicate 67 minutes of their time to community service and promote human rights, equality, and social justice.

After cooking, Dantjie greeted the elderly, sang and danced with them, and then served them food.

As part of her activities for the day, Dantjie led the local community policing forum and officials in doing laundry and cleaning the compound.

“Today, we honour our late icon and stalwart of freedom, Nelson Mandela, for playing a critical role in ensuring that our elderly regain their dignity by receiving equal services in old age homes.

“These services were not intended for black people during apartheid.

“We thank Tata Madiba for his role in shaping the history of our country,” Dantjie told the elderly, who filled the local hall to capacity.

Commending the old age home, Dantjie said Sonop opened its doors in 1939 as a home for war veterans, including those who mined for diamonds and worked in forestry.

Given South Africa’s well-documented past of discrimination, the centre was mainly used by white people. It is now, however, accessible to all South Africans, regardless of colour, gender, or creed.

Despite its location, the state-run 24-hour centre is accessible to all elderly individuals in the province who require care and protection, in line with the Older Persons Act.

Most residents at the centre are elderly and frail, and meal times are structured similarly to those in hospitals.

The elderly receive five meals per day, which include tea and sandwiches, breakfast, lunch, supper, and late-evening tea. Those who require medication have it administered with their meals. A dietitian periodically assesses the meals and has declared Thursdays as vegan meal days.

One of the elderly residents, Magdeline Sekgothe, applauded Dantjie for including them in her celebration of Mandela Day.

“We are humbled that you visited us. We have been waiting for this day. We are safe here. Caregivers take care of us. We are happy to be here; it is a home away from home.”

Sonop home manager Annah Nhlapo said the centre caters for most elderly individuals who require care and protection.

The centre provides a range of services, including active ageing programmes, exercising, sewing, knitting, singing, reading, attending church services, doctor’s visits, psychosocial support, and nursing services.

The Sonop Old Age Home, situated in Sonop village, is a 137-bed facility that caters to frail care needs, assisted living, and independent older persons.

It also accommodates individuals with physical and mild mental conditions.

Although the facility has been transformed into an old-age home in terms of the Older Persons Act of 2006, the surrounding community continues to benefit from its various services, including a clinic that is open to anyone in the community.