By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The older persons in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati gathered together to celebrate International Day of Older Persons and elected the Older Persons Forum that will represent them.

All five sub-districts municipalities, Greater Taung, Lekwa-Temane, Mamusa, Kagisano-Molopo and Naledi municipalities came together to elect their representatives.

The event was hosted at Maphoitsile village, near Taung under the theme “Leaving No One Behind: Promoting A Society For All”.

The committee will engage with relevant stakeholders to outline the older persons’ grievances and seek a helping hand where is needed.

ANC stalwart Dr Ruth Mompati was part of the event and told older persons to stand up and take charge.

“Older persons make wide-ranging contributions to economic and social development. However, discrimination and social exclusion persist. We must overcome this bias in order to ensure a socially and economically active, secure and healthy ageing population.” Mama Ruta said as she is affectionately known.

Leaving No One Behind: Promoting a Society for All

Strike Moyake who stand-in for Executive Mayor of Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati Elvis Tladinyane who was absent because of other commitments, said the elderlies must not allow the abuse and sufferings mounted to them by their children.

“This is the time where you need to enjoy your time. Some children leave their kids with you without any financial support system. You cannot rear them up and expected to do the same with their own kids” Moyake said.

The chairperson in Kagisano-Molopo district, Sephecholo Bochocho said the committee will help to speed process and attend to the most urgent issues affecting older persons in Dr Ruth Mompati district.

“The society need to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the 21st century and to promote the development of a society for all ages” he said.

The population over 60 is expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2030 across the world.-TDN
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