Government offers hope to the elderly

A retired environmental health officer, Kgosietsile Pelesane (74), has dedicated his time to helping 36 old people in his community of Kroonstad by providing them with shelter.

In the 1980’s, while working as an environmental health officer, Pelesane was touched by the plight of the homeless, neglected and impoverished old people who scoured rubbish bins looking for food at a local dumping site. After collecting the food, these elders would go to a local crèche for accommodation.

As a health worker, this bothered Pelesane who then decided to take it upon himself to ensure that these senior citizens are taken care of. He asked the local municipality to give him access to an old hostel.

He started buying them food from his own pocket and hired someone to do laundry for the elders. This marked the birth of the Boiketlong Old Age Home.

“This was the best I could do. We still need more because we spend R16 000 on groceries every month.

There are 36 old people at the centre who pay R900 out of their pension money for their accommodation. This is how we can afford their basic needs. We pay R5 000 for electricity and this is a challenge, because we sometimes cannot afford it,” said Pelesane.

However, Pelesane’s main objective is to keep these old citizens of this province healthy, both physically and emotionally. He complained that relatives bring their grandparents to the centre when they are terminally ill and then vanish without a trace.

“If the community could get involved by volunteering at the centre this would ease the burden. I would also like to call on the relatives of these elderly people to visit more and help take care of their own parents.

“Last year I buried an old man from Lesotho who came to Kroonstad in 1940. He grew old here and fell sick. No one came forward to claim him after his death, so I had to make bury him without his relatives,” explained Pelesane.

Meanwhile, the department of health has heeded the call to lend a helping hand, as part of its 67 minutes to honour the former South African president, Nelson Mandela. The MEC for health, Benny Malakoane ate lunch with the 36 elderly people at the centre.

“There is a retired nurse helping out at the centre. The department has arranged for these old people to get medication because some of them have chronic ailments. These medications from the local clinic will be brought to the centre, to give the residents access to medication without leaving the centre,” said the department in a statement.

The department also donated 200 blankets. Another 200 blankets were given to 100 old people in Orangeville and Dealsville.

In its quest to promote healthy lifestyles in schools, the department will also donate toothpastes and toothbrushes to 300 learners in Dealsville.