1 September 2023
Elderly women from Gugulethu, Cape Town dancing at an event organised by several local NGOs to mark the end of Women’s Month on Thursday. Photo: Qaqamba Falithenjwa
To mark the end of Women’s Month, over 100 elderly women from Gugulethu, Cape Town were treated to a luncheon with live music and dancing.
Organisations including Ilitha Labantu, Legal Aid South Africa, KeReady SA Mobile Health Clinic, and Gugulethu Library joined forces to host the women at the Gugulethu Sports Complex on 31 August.
During the event, representatives from some of the organisations spoke about the importance of maintaining good health and informed them of their rights as senior citizens and women.
Nomonde Mama from the Gugulethu Library spoke about the importance of reading and becoming members of the library. She said the library also offers a space for local senior clubs to host activities.
The KeReady Mobile clinic representatives handed out pamphlets about the services they offer. They urged those on chronic medication to take their medication consistently.
Ilitha Labantu founder Mandisa Monakali suggested that a day be set aside at the library where some of the elderly women tell stories to little children “just like it was done in the olden days”.
One of the attendees, Nomzukisi Mbana, complained that the elderly in the community were being neglected and mistreated. “Our own children don’t take care of us, they neglect us when they find jobs. These [Senior citizen] clubs help us feel accepted and loved,” she said.
Mbana said the group she belongs to regularly takes them on excursions, and they play games, among other activities.
At the end of the event, IIitha Labantu handed out blankets to the elderly women.