The KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Honourable Sihle Zikalala led his cabinet on the second successive day, Wednesday 2 October 2019, in celebration of the 2019 Senior Citizens Parliament. It is worth commending and praises to witness political records being broken into positives. Premier Zikalala has shown stealth and substance by setting a good example – leading his cabinet at the forefront amid prevailing socio-economic challenges that the country has faced recently. Mr Zikalala has been there during the opening day of the Senior Citizens Parliament and availed himself once more on the second day – gearing for social responsibility programme.
Every government service, major or small, remains a project that would address societal needs and responsibilities that normally takes its toll and time to complete – it is a process. The 2nd day’s programme, was directed and coordinated by the Chairperson of the Committee on Quality of Life Standing, Honourable Mbatha-Cele.
The day was a business centred affair. This was a continuation of Day 1 programme. The first activity was on four presentations from the provincial departments of Social Development, Home Affairs, Justice (Prosecution and Judiciary), Community Safety and Liaison. The focus was more on social matters that include: radical intervention programmes to transform the quality of government services to senior citizens; mechanisms to protect senior citizens from various forms of abuse; increasing levels of alcohol consumption by women and elderly people; plans to ensue preferential treatment of senior citizens visiting the Department of Home Affairs, banks and other centres attached to their basic needs. No government will exclude any portion of its citizenry from advancement and living a better life.
Honourable Mbatha-Cele announced to the house the orderly process that would unfold to complete the business programme for Day 3 –Thursday 3 October 2019. The entire session throng was divided into six breakaway commissions that would unpack all thorny issues that require imminent address. The commissions were allocated into clusters, namely Social Transformation, Economic, Governance and Security Clusters.
When taking stock, it is a reality that the number of elders and pensioners living below the poverty line is continuously rising. Fortunately, there are some helpful and free benefits available for senior citizens but there are concerns that communities are unaware of them.
