Programme Director;
MEC for Social Development; Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Ms Mosetsanagape Mokomele-Mothibi;
Chairperson of the Older Persons Forum; Mr Tom Boya;
Members of the Forum;

Firstly, let me welcome you all to this fourth Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the South African Older Persons Forum. Thank you for making time and space from your busy schedules to attend this AGM. This shows the dedication you have for the advancement of the needs and interests of older persons.

Allow me to address an issue of importance to many grandparents currently. Recently the South Gauteng High Court made a ruling in relation to the provisions of section 150 subsection (1), paragraph (a) of the Children’s Act.
 
In particular, the court had to interpret the meaning of ‘without any visible means of support’ as provided for in Section 150 subsection (1) paragraph (a) of the Children’s Act.  The court ruled that this part of legislation does not refer to the income or means of the prospective foster parent, but rather to the means or income of the child. The court further concluded that relatives of a child, including the grandparents, have the right to apply for the foster care order and grant.  The court held that what is important to consider when considering an application for a foster care order is what is in the best interest of the child.  We want to assure all grandparents who look after their grandchildren that they are not excluded from applying for a foster care order and foster care grant in respect of their grandchildren.

Delegates

I strongly believe that the contributions you will make in this meeting will enrich our joint programmes for the development of older persons moving forward. Your contributions will also lead to a common goal of advancing the rights of senior citizens.  Working together we can change the way our society perceives and treats older persons.

I am referring to the constitutional rights which are also captured in the Older Persons Act 13 of 2006.The Act calls upon all South Africans to create opportunities for the active participation of older persons in society whileworking together to address the challenges facing them.

This AGM must promote unity amongst older persons and further provide a platform to share ideas and experiences, because it is only through sharing experiences from your own localities that you can help one another advance the course of older persons in unison.  Don’t let others be left behind. Let all of us share some of the challenges we face at the provincial and local level and let this broader forum together find ways to lift up all of its members.Let each one teach one!

The Golden Games this year coincide with an important historical moment in our country.  This year we also celebrate the elders in our history who started the democratic revolution a hundred years ago, through which today we enjoy many freedoms protected in our Constitution.

I am confident that older persons taking part in these Games will do so in memory of the struggle heroes and heroines of the revolutionary movement.

Ladies and gentlemen

This AGM is informed by the two important aspects. The first one is the adoption of the reviewed and amended Constitutionof the South African Older Persons Forum (SAOPF).We thank all who invested their energies and worked tirelessly in drafting and reviewing the Constitution. Your contribution will surely add value to the structure and the performance of the Forum. All your inputs are crucial and they contribute to the improvement of the lives of senior citizens.

Secondly, you will have the opportunity to vote for a new executive committee of the Forum. I appeal to all who will be voting to do so in the interest of the Forum and older persons in general. Gender equality is a goal that we must always strive for so when you elect a new executive committee, ensure that it is balanced so that this forum can lead us on gender responsepolicies with regards to older persons.

Programme Director

When the Department of Social Development adopted the Golden Games five years ago, we did this based on the Madrid Plan of Action on Active Ageing.The Madrid Plan of Action is a brain child of the Second World Assembly on Ageing held in Madrid in April 2002.

As identified back then, the three main priority areas of the plan remain focused on Older Persons and Development; Advancing Health and Well Being Into Old Age; and Ensuring an Enabling and Supportive Environment.

This guideline continues to serve as a framework for our approach to the Golden Games. Some of the outcomes we seek to include nation building and the overall improvement of the health profile of older persons so that they continue being productive members of our society.

As a partner to this Forum, we continue to lobby at various levels of government to ensure that the interests of older persons are considered in social programmes.  For instance, members of this forum are aware that we as the Department of Social Development are actively lobbying our Police Service to install a desk for older persons in each police station in the country in order to promote the protection of our senior citizens.
This Forum is also aware that the Department of Social Development is lobbying to ensure that interests of older persons receive attention at the highest level of provincial government by requesting that each Premier’s Office puts in place a dedicated desk for matters of older persons.

As our partners we expect that you will work together with us to ensure that these objectives are achieved.  Part of this involves ensuring that your voices in the provinces you come from grow bigger and louder.  This means that you must actively work to recruit more of your peers into your various forums and social clubs because there is power in numbers.

As we go through the proceedings of the day, let us remember that we are working together to create a society which enables older persons to participate actively and freely with their rights protected.

We look forward to receiving your progress reports on the work that has been undertaken in the past year; and we anticipate even further the fruitful engagements that will put forward tangible solutions and action plans to the things that hinder our progress in advancing the interests of the elderly.

We salute your dedication and hard work and wish you a productive meeting.

Thank you