The oldest resident of the Reënboog Old Age Home, and also the oldest resident in Heidedal, Ouma Katie Adriaanse, turns 100 next month.
She received a warm blanket from police members of the Heidedal Police Station, close to this municipal Old Age Home.
Stakeholders including the police, the Angel Foundation, Mr Central South Africa, and the Mangaung Metro, attended the launch of the 67 Days to Mandela Day – Light up the Future campaign at the retirement home on Monday, 12 May.
Angelique Kemp of the Angel Foundation at the event said the date had been chosen specifically so that the next 67 days would be spent on upgrading the old age home and the grounds.
The project is scheduled to conclude on Mandela Day, 18 July.
The first phase has already started, with trees being pruned and grass being cut.
On Monday, Ntombi Nhlapo, member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for Human Settlements, along with the aforementioned stakeholders, started work on a vegetable garden at the back of the premises.
Kemp says the project as a whole entailed many facets, like fixing the gate, fixing the cracks inside the living units, and tending to the many water problems within the units.
“One of the biggest concerns is for the old people’s safety. There is no gate that keeps intruders out, and the residents are permanently at risk. There have been break-ins and we constantly fear for their safety.
“Tata Nelson Mandela believed in a rainbow nation. Let us fix this old age home and fix this rainbow,” she urges.
“These residents are supposed to be living in a sanctuary, but recently it has become a place where evil breathes.
“We urge the police to be visible here at the home to check on their neighbours.”
The home is just a stone’s throw from the Heidedal Police Station, and right next to the Mangaung 10111 Centre.
“I believe a society is judged by how they treat their elderly. This should be a place of dignity, comfort and care.
“Let us work together to make the Reënboog Old Age Home a sanctuary again.”
Nhlapo said the Mangaung Metro knows that there is a lot that needs to be done at the municipal old age homes.
“We lack the capacity and decided to outsource work that needs to be done there.”
She says the municipality will attend to problems like the water leakages.
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