The City of Cape Town prides itself as an administration that takes care of the most vulnerable in society.
As we come close to the end of Mandela Month, a month marked by an increase in volunteerism to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in our communities, we felt it was important to celebrate an organisation that has dedicated itself to this mission.
Lilyhaven Place in Bonteheuwel is devoted to taking care of all physically and mentally frail senior citizens for nearly 50 years. I am very grateful to the staff at this centre for their unwavering commitment to caring for our senior residents.
When I heard that some of the residents were in need of mobility equipment, I thought it was important for us to lend a helping hand.
On Tuesday, 24 July 2018 we donated 10 wheelchairs, 10 walkers and 20 commodes to ensure the elderly beneficiaries can still have mobility to go about their daily lives.
The oldest resident at Lilyhaven Place is 96 years old and has been at the centre the longest, since since1995.
I was also pleased to hear that the residents at the facility are kept healthy and strong thanks to a vegetable garden on the premises. I was really impressed to hear that the vegetable garden uses a grey water system that reuses water.
Not only does this assist Lilyhaven to save water during the drought but it also helps the institution keeps its water bill low.
The organisation has several other needs including a wheelchair-friendly pathway and personal hygiene necessities for the elderly residents.
This handover comes during a month when we as South Africans come together to serve the most vulnerable and commemorate the centenary celebration of the birth of the father of our democracy, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
Tata Madiba once said that ‘A society that does not value its older people denies its roots and endangers its future. Let us strive to enhance their capacity to support themselves for as long as possible and, when they cannot do so anymore, to care for them.’
We must all do more to bring these words to life and emulate the ideals and Madiba’s example where each day was dedicated to serving others.
My call is that each resident must amplify their charitable work on an ongoing basis so that we can make even greater strides in assisting facilities such as Lilyhaven Place – thus building a caring and inclusive city.
Donating this equipment today is also in line with our Integrated Development Plan (IDP) objectives of creating a caring and inclusive city by ensuring that residents with disabilities are not restricted due to lack of mobility.
The City’s Social Development Department has wide-ranging programmes which offer support services to assist vulnerable groups and senior citizens such as home-based care and recreational activity clubs in areas across the city.
This goes hand-in-hand with the financial relief we offer with nearly R3 billion in rates rebates and indigent relief set aside in the budget for elderly and vulnerable residents in the current financial year.
Our senior citizens are the mothers and fathers who built this city and when we care for them and empower them, they are able to continue making positive contributions in their communities.