Public Service and Administration Deputy Minister, Dr Chana Pilane-Majake visited the St John the Baptist, Old Age Home on Monday in Winterveldt-northwest of Tshwane, where she donated blankets to the elderly.<\/p>\n
The event concluded the activities of the Deputy Minister for Women\u2019s Month which is attributed to the more than 20 000\u00a0<\/strong>women\u00a0who staged a historic march on August 9, 1956 at the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act, commonly known as the pass laws of 1950.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s Women\u2019s Month was celebrated under the theme: Women\u2019s Socio-Economic Rights Empowerment: Building Back Better for Women\u2019s Improved Resilience.\u201d<\/p>\n When the Deputy Minister arrived at the Centre, all wheelchair-bound senior citizens and those who used walking sticks to maintain their balance and stability were kitted for the occasion with the elders wearing their red and white t-shirts with the Centre\u2019s logo and name.<\/p>\n With their Centre situated in the deep rural area of Winterveldt, where there is no tar road, the 60 senior citizens who reside at the facility thought that they were forgotten by government. However, when they saw the Deputy Minister arriving flanked by the Ward Councillor, Cllr Chris Masia, senior citizens could not hide their happiness as they started singing.<\/p>\n Addressing the elders, Deputy Minister Pilane-Majake said: \u201cIt is not all about the blankets, but what it is important is this special visit to your centre to show you love. We are a caring government. Yes, there is so much that still needs to be done, but what is good is to see government led development in the historically disadvantaged communities.<\/p>\n \u201cTruth be told, before the dawn of democracy, in most black communities, there were no access to clean drinkable water, no roads, no health facilities and schools.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile there are those who are criticizing our government, what we know is that it was not easy to challenge the apartheid government, now we say to you, don\u2019t be confused by wrong messages from the many political organisations in our country, you need to continue to know who you are, where you come from and where you are going.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is the intention of the current administration to get rid of all pit latrines. In our department, we promote Ubuntu and as we serve you, we do that in a dignified way and in an efficient and effective manner,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n The Deputy Minister further said that today in the country, learners are getting meals in public schools, the poor are getting free houses and free healthcare services.<\/p>\n\r\n