WATERVAL – During the celebration day of the Elim Hlanganani Society Care of the Aged, the MEC for Health and Welfare, Mr Sello Moloto, handed over about 19 certificates to professional retired nurses and trainees of the HIV/Aids Awareness Programme. The celebrations took place at the Society Care of the Aged Centre in Waterval on Monday (October 28).

Old aged persons from Waterval, Chavani, Bungeni, Valdezia-Mabedi, Mbhokota, N'waxinyamani, Bokisi, Mpheni, Elim, Riverplaats, Xililobyeni, and Shirley who attended the celebration also received T-shirts and umbrellas from the MEC.

According to the society's PRO, Mrs F Khosa, the Care Centre was established in 1993 with 43 members. "At the beginning of this financial year we were about 750 and that prompted us to apply for donations considering that number. Presently our membership stands at 1 100 and the money we received from the Government is no longer enough," she said. Khosa emphasised that the society specialises in home care giving, HIV/ Aids Awareness campaigns and a small Library project.

Khosa also revealed that the aged received their training from the Elim Primary Health Care section. However, the Centre also involves the youth, with teenagers between 8 and 10 years being taught how to inject old aged diabetes patients. In addition, the centre in an effort to get some more skills in Home Care, sent its members to various African and international countries to learn more skills on looking after the aged. "We have about 380 frail people who are bound to stay at home, 200 Aids orphans and about 25 disabled people that we are currently giving care to," claims Khosa.

She also strongly challenged the Mayor of the Makhado Municipality to extend their building. In his statement, the Mayor of the Makhado Municipality Mr B Tlakula said that currently there is a project, which they are busy with. It involves the installation of five water boreholes in townships that have spent a decade with no water in their taps.

He, however, promised them that, in the next financial year, efforts to put more boreholes would be taken into considerations. " Some people were proposing that, we must take water from the Abasing Dam and I must tell you that, that water is not enough," he said.

Meanwhile, Health and Welfare MEC, Moloto advised people to stop asking what the Government can do for them, but rather what they can do for their country. "We were strongly criticised for spending large sums of money on the arms deal while the majority of our society was leaving with no water, electricity and conducive houses, that, we've done pretty well from what the then Government used to do" he said.

Moloto revealed that the Previous Government bought army vehicles with people's provident funds adding that the present Government is still paying those debts. "I therefore, thank you (Elim Hlanganani) for not joining the chorus of those who are accusing the Government of doing nothing and I must emphasise it that, the Government is aware of the pace you've set and we will give full support for this," Moloto said. According to Moloto, involving the Youth at the Centre would benefit moral regeneration. When asked about the process of the investigation Committee that was set up in March 2000 by the Minister of Social Development to initiate talks with Banks and Post Offices that beneficiaries can receive their grants at relevant places, he said that it is difficult to run the process in the Province because a number of beneficiaries are from the rural areas and they stay far away from the towns.

He however, agreed that, his Department is still striving to commit and collaborate with companies that tender shelter, and water as a basic need at various pay-points and he called on members of the community to help in the form of bringing in chairs and with other relevant facilities. A strong warning was sent to mothers who are still receiving the children social grants even though their children no longer qualify for that, a drastic step would be taken against them and would be prosecuted in the court of law if found guilty.

According to Moloto IDs and bank cards of most beneficiaries are in possession of loan sharks and Micro lenders who are charging them skyrocketing interests. "I learned that a certain granny who was loaned R300 is reported to have paid more than R1 900 the MEC remarked.