Dignity restored for 103-year-old gogo
‘Finally, my basic human rights have been restored'
AS part of the Human Rights Day commemoration, KZN Premier Willies Mchunu handed over a house to a 103-year-old gogo residing in the Pongola Municipality.
On receiving the keys, a happy Gogo Ndindile Liphina Mntungwa said, ‘Finally, my basic human rights have been restored. For years I suffered the indignity of living in a dilapidated shack.’
Mchunu pointed out that women suffered triple oppression under the apartheid regime.
‘They faced many deliberate restrictions that disempowered them. Under this democratic government the importance and value of senior citizens, especially women, cannot be overemphasised.
‘The older generation of women contributed significantly, through their experience and knowledge, to building today’s society,’ Mchunu said.
‘It is for this reason we paid a special visit to Gogo Mntungwa today.
‘The Office on the Rights of Older Persons within the Premier’s office is coordinating and promoting the protection of the rights of older persons.
‘Central to our efforts is the acknowledgement that senior citizens have human rights like any others. They have the right to participate in socio-economic activities designed to improve the quality of their lives.’
‘Critically, they have a right to demand adequate infrastructure such as housing, roads and decent schooling for their grandchildren.
‘They also have a right to demand access to basic services such as water and electricity.
‘We are calling upon municipalities to prioritise women at all times because they are the mothers of the nation,’ Mchunu stressed.
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