By Staff Reporter.

• Social Development Deputy Minister Ganief Hendricks has paid tribute to the elders of South Africa during a visit to the Laudium Old Age Home.
• Being at the home reminded the deputy minister of the teaching that a society or a nation is judged by how it treats its elders.
• “Your compassion and tireless service, which you demonstrated over the decades when you socialised and mingled among our rainbow nation, are the notable threads that hold our social fabric together,” he told the residents.

Ageing is not the end of purpose but the flowering of wisdom, the Deputy Minister of Social Development, Ganief Hendricks, told the residents and staff of the Laudium Old Age Home, in the City of Tshwane.

The deputy minister took time to meet the elders and staff of the home based in the southwest of Pretoria, describing it as a privilege to be in a place filled with love, wisdom, and dignity.

His visit comes during Social Development Month, which takes place annually during October.

“Being here reminds me and all of us about one of the greatest teachings that are found in all our faiths and traditions: ‘that a society or a nation is judged by how they treat the elders’.”

Hendricks said he was reminded that the elders are not merely recipients of care, they are the living libraries of history, the carriers of values, and the moral compass that continues to guide communities and the nation.

“We owe you not only our admiration but also our deep respect — a valued commitment to ensuring that your years of retirement are lived in comfort, companionship, security, and, more importantly, with dignity.

He used the opportunity to acknowledge the Department of Social Development’s (DSD) gratitude to the management and group of caregivers of Laudium Old Age Home and the Laudium Care Service for the Aged for their unstinting and commendable services.

Minister Hendricks told the elders: “Each of you embodies the spirit of Ubuntu — ‘I am because we are’.

“Your compassion and tireless service, which you demonstrated over the decades when you socialised and mingled among our rainbow nation, are the notable threads that hold our social fabric together; with these, you have connected us with our forebears, and you are tying us unnoticedly to the generations to come.”

He prayed that the residents continue to remain blessed for the noble work that they accomplished when they were working amongst our desperate and vulnerable communities. He also prayed that the elders’ rich legacies, which they had left behind, would benefit the generations to come.

“I will continue to assist in strengthening our DSD programmes to support Older Persons,” Deputy Minister Hendricks promised.

“I will do so by improving access to health and social care, and by enhancing community-based support and safety for all Older Persons.

“Let me underline that DSD’s mission remains clear — to ensure that every elder in South Africa lives with dignity and without fear of being harmed.”

Hendricks told the elders they are remembered for their healthy contributions and are not forgotten.

“Each of you is tangibly seen, each of you is sincerely valued, and each of you is dearly loved by us.”

The collective prayers, informative stories, and rich wisdom of the elderly are treasure troves for the generations to come.

Their memories should be preserved through oral tradition and should be passed on to the children and the forthcoming generations.

“Let us remember that ageing is not the end of purpose, but the flowering of wisdom. You are our living testimony that perseverance, faith, and love can overcome every trial,” the deputy minister said.

Hendricks wished all continued good physical and spiritual health, and that they be given the necessary comfort and the required peace.

“And may we, as a society, continue to build a South Africa that honours all our elders, that cherishes all our caregivers, and that protects our most vulnerable.”