AFTER waiting for a year and nearly three months, senior citizens of iLitha Lethu Adult Care Centre of Ilinge are calling on the Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) to finalise matters so that a care centre for the elderly can be constructed in the village.
The elderly participated in a protest march to CHDM on Monday with the aim to give a letter to the executive mayor Kholiswa Vimbayo, calling on her to sign a document to allow use of a portion of land for construction of the centre.
Noluntu Mlungwana, 62, and chairwoman of the centre committee said the care centre had already been registered and councillor Boy Thole was asked to assist with procurement of the land.
She said it was indicated that a letter of acknowledgement was awaited from CHDM to allow the start of construction.
“We don’t have funding, so we have to take money out of our pockets to buy food, paraffin we take from our homes for the heaters and to cook on and at times we even cook outside using wood.”
The current building had little security and had recently been broken into.
“We have found sponsors for fencing and building equipment for our centre and our sponsors say they will not help us build until we have a letter from the municipality, proving that this is our land.”
Crime was another concern for the senior citizens, who hoped that the centre would provide a safe refuge.
CHDM officials met with the delegation and acknowledged receipt of the list of challenges.
CHDM communications manager Thobeka Mqamelo said, “The municipality recognizes the elderly as one of the priority stakeholders of the municipality, not only because of their vulnerability, but also because of their role in society. The CHDM has committed to speed up the process of acquiring land from the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality.”
Various issues had to be considered including tabling of the request to the council and interaction with EMLM.
Mqamelo said interaction would continue until the matter was resolved.
