​Last week Friday, Gauteng Department of Social Development MEC Morakane Mosupyoe commemorated the World Elderly Abuse Awareness day by gifting senior citizens with blankets at the Xilembeni Skills development centre in Bapsfontein.
World Elder Abuse Awareness day is observed on 15 June annually but due escalating number of covid 19 infections, the department delayed commemorating this day.

Speaking to older person department’s Head of Department Thembeni Mhlongo said older persons programmes caters for both grandmothers and grandfathers. She emphasized the importance of the department working together with the elderly as they play a significant role in your communities.

MEC Mosupyoe addressed the elderly in attendance and said commemorative days such as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day highlights the daily plight of various abuse that senior citizens experience.

Mosupyoe encouraged the oldies to be vigilant and report any form of abuse to authorities. She further discussed different forms of abuse that might be experienced by the elderly, ranging from sexual, physical, social, emotion, psychological, financial, and material abuse.

Gogo Thandiwe Swakamisa from Ekurhuleni Older Persons Forum thanked the department for keeping their promise and asked the MEC to relay her message to the Premier that, they know he loves and cares about them.