Food parcels for senior citizens of ward 81

By Sharon Mathabatha

Senior citizens celebrated with joy  and excitement  when  The ANC Onica Mashigo Branch Executive Committee (BEC) together with ward 81 Councillor Mokgadi Radebe organised a branch senior citizens luncheon,  to honour these heroes and heroines for the role they play in their families and the community as a whole. The luncheon was held at River Park, last Friday. About 100 senior citizens attended and each received a packet of groceries.

We live in times were grand parents have turned mothers and fathers for their grandchildren. This is the most common challenge facing elderly people in townships. The little that they get from the government each month, is often not enough for them to get by, hence, the ANC Onica Mashigo Branch Executive Committee took initiative to assist and lend a helping hand to such families by distributing food parcels containing groceries.

Ward 81 Councillor Mokgadi Radebe explained the purpose of the event. “We are gathered here to show love, appreciation and to give back to our elders of ward 81. We want to assist were we can because we have identified that most elders here are left to fend for their grandchildren with the pension money, which  is not enough as they have to do everything, from paying schools fees to buying food with it. This initiative is mainly targeted to assisting the elders,” she said.

Crime around the area was also discussed crime as being one of the challenges the elders faced. They were encouraged to report any form of crime that occurs within the neighbourhood. Sandringham Station commander Colonel Tshabalala added her voice by encouraging the elders. “We get lots of reports from this neighbourhood and most of them come from elders because they are the ones that are left alone during the day, therefore the culprits target such households. When you see a person stealing at your neighbour’s house, do not turn a blind eye report that because if you don’t, tomorrow that person will be stealing from your house. We are here to assist you but if you keep quiet and sit with information, how are we going to assist you? Come forward with the information,” she said.