Honouring Elders: A Call for Support
By: Staff Reporter
On International Day of Older Persons, 1 October, Ikamva Labantu hosted a celebration at the Enkululekweni Wellness Centre in Khayelitsha, where Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announced a R500 000 donation to the organisation’s Older Persons Programme.
For many township elders, retirement is not an option – they raise grandchildren on small pensions while facing exploitation, unemployment, and poverty. Despite these challenges, they remain the backbone of families and communities.
Ikamva Labantu’s 17 Senior Clubs provide meals, healthcare, social connection, and advocacy for elders, while home-based care ensures frail seniors remain active members of society.
Mayor Hill-Lewis praised their resilience, saying elders’ contributions are “too often overlooked.” Ikamva Labantu has called on government, civil society, and the private sector to work together to ensure South Africa’s elders are protected, valued, and included.
Ukuhlonipha Abadala: Ikhwelo Lokufumana Inkxaso
Ngosuku lwaMazwe ngaMazwe lwaBantu abaDala, ngomhla woku-1 kweyeDwarha, i-Ikamva Labantu ibambe umsitho e-Enkululekweni Wellness Centre eKhayelitsha, apho uSodolophu waseKapa uGeordin Hill-Lewis wabhengeza umnikelo wama-R500 000 kwiNkqubo yaBantu abaDala yalo mbutho.
Kubantu abadala abaninzi basezilokishini, ukuthatha umhlala-phantsi akuyondlela yokuzikhethela – bakhulisa abazukulwana ngemali encinci yenkam-nkam ngelixa bejongene nokuxhatshazwa, ukungaqeshwa kunye nentlupheko. Ngaphandle kwale mingeni, bahlala beyintsika yeentsapho noluntu.
IiKlabhu eziPhezulu ze-Ikamva Labantu zili-17 zibonelela ngokutya, ukhathalelo lwempilo, unxibelelwano loluntu, kunye nenkxaso yabantu abadala, ngeli lixa ukhathalelo lwasemakhaya luqinisekisa ukuba abantu abadala ababuthathaka bahlala bengamalungu oluntu asebenzayo.
USodolophu u-Hill-Lewis ukuncomile ukomelela kwabo, esithi igalelo labadala “lihlala lingahoywa.” Ikamva Labantu limemelele urhulumente, imibutho yoluntu, kunye namashishini abucala ukuba basebenzisane ukuqinisekisa ukuba abantu abadala baseMzantsi Afrika bayakhuselwa, bayaxatyiswa kwaye bayabandakanywa.
