Boipelo Mere
Galeshewe community welcomed Sol Plaatje municipality’s gesture of refurbishing the neglected and abandoned Galeshewe Old Age Home, situated next to Ekhaya Guest House during Mandela Month.
The renovated facility was handed over as a commitment towards restoring dignity, and improving the quality of life of its senior citizens.
It’s also aimed towards creating a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment for those who have contributed much to its community.
The occasion was made more special by the generous donation of toiletries and food parcels by LGSETA, bringing comfort and practical support to the residents of the facility.
Galeshewe Old Age Home consists of 6 units, and belongs to the municipality.
It has been falling apart over the years, and experiencing daily vandalism activities due to poor management, including security for the elderly tenants.
The ceiling have been caving in, taps have been stolen, including electricity infrastructure, and the yard experiencing overgrown grass.
The elderly have been without electricity, and relying on candles, and fetching water from the toilets because the communal tap was stolen. That is because there have been no basins or taps inside the rooms.
Young people in the neighbourhood have been the voluntarily guarding and cleaning the yard to protect the tenants because there has been no security positioned at the guard house.
The handover ceremony was led by the Municipal Manager Thapelo Matlala, Acting mayor Councillor Isaac Ruiters, Nomazizi Shwababa, LGSETA delegation, Premiers Office, together with the senior citizens and members of the community.
The elderly, including those from nearby, were treated to lunch and refreshments.
The tenants also received new beds with decent linen in their rooms.
The refurbishment was lauded as more than an investment in infrastructure, but an investment in people.
The occasion was made even more special through the generous donation of toiletries and food parcels by LGSETA, bringing comfort and practical support to the residents of the facility.
The MM expressed disappointment at the state of the facility when he was taken on a tour.
Lahlu Mabula raised the urgency for electricity to be reconnected in order for the tenants to benefit as indigents.
She expressed that the tenants were abandoned, sitting on the floor or crates, and sleeping on worn-out beds with no decent bedding.
“Even it terms of food, there elderly don’t have anyone cooking for them,” said Mabula.
Matlala expressed that poor living conditions of the elderly was unacceptable for a facility that belonged to the municipality.
He committed that their efforts of restoring the dignity of the elderly will be ongoing and not just end with Mandela Day.
“The other issue that is concerning is security, and a kitchen facility on the facility. It’s an ongoing programme, and it is a good thing that one came and saw for themselves,” said Matlala.
“We will be encouraging the teams at the municipality to bring various projects here including to engage with other stakeholders like the Department of Social Development as the issue of the elderly lies with them.”
He promised that the municipality will look at all proposals of intervention to see what they are able to do.
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