**REMARKS BY**

**MR VUSI MADONSELA**

**DIRECTOR GENERAL**

**THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT,**

**REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA**

On this occasion of the White House Conference on Aging, I bring warm
and heartily greetings from my Minister, Dr. Zola Skweyiya, to the
organizers of and the participants at this conference. Personally, I am
singularly honoured to be the one instead of my aged Minister to make
country remarks on South Africa's experience in its implementation of
ageing programmes. I declare, at the outset, my country's commitment to
the United Nation's salient principles on older persons, being
independent, participation, care, self-fulfillment and dignity.

According to our country's first credible population census, compiled in
October 1996, South Africa has a total of 40.5 million people, 6.9% of
whom were aged 60 years or older. Five years later, in 2001, the
population census indicated a 4% growth in population size, up to 44.8
million people, with the concomitant growth in the numbers of older
persons by 3.28 million, translating into 7.3% of the total population.
This proportion, we understand, is substantially lower than what obtains
in the developed world, where the proportion in countries such as Italy
is said to stand at 19%. South Africa's proportion of older persons is
marginally lower than the average proportion, estimated at 8% in
comparable developing countries, but higher than the average for Africa
(5%), which has a very young population in comparison with the rest of
the world.

In terms of the overall distribution of older person in South Africa,
the largest concentration of older persons is in the provinces of
KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, where the proportions are (11.9%)
and (18.0%), respectively. Owing to out-migration and urbanization
amongst younger persons, older persons are disproportionately
represented in the most rural and the poorest provinces of the country.

South Africa, as with other countries in the world, has an ageing
population, which means that the proportion of older persons in the
country is increasing. This South African reality calls for a concerted
effort towards strengthening the capacity of older persons to play a
more meaningful role in society, to enjoy active ageing, healthy and
independent living, by creating an enabling environment for them. The
role of older people in South African households has changed
significantly over time. Traditionally, their role was to advise, direct
and lead their families and communities in the practice of culture and
tradition, in the conduct of rituals and ceremonies that defined the
very being of their families and communities. They pioneered the
cultivation of societal values and norms, as well as passed family and
the community's indigenous knowledge from one generation to the next.

The advent of a modern way of life meant a change in the roles played by
older people in society. The erosion of the status and recognition of
older people has prevailed for some time. Additional factors such as
urbanization, migratory labour system and the onset of chronic diseases
have had a devastating impact on the structure of the family. Older
people are now key to the survival of an increasing number of orphaned
and vulnerable children and those adults that are frail as a consequence
of the overall burden of disease, not least of which the devastating
effects of AIDS. Older people play this very difficult role with limited
resources at their disposal and absolutely no recognition for their
efforts.

The history of South Africa prior to 1994 is well known and documented.
The policy and legislative environment was not only discriminatory on
the grounds of race and gender. It also did not protect the rights of
older persons or even promote their independent functioning within
society. Furthermore, it perceived older persons as passive recipients
of services rather than as a group of persons who have a role to play in
the mainstream of society. In March 2000, the Minister for Social
Development established the Inter-Ministerial Committee on the Abuse,
Neglect and Ill-Treatment of Older Persons to investigate the extent and
causes of abuse, neglect and ill-treatment of older persons. The
findings of the Committee indicated that the incidence of abuse and
neglect of older persons with families, in the community and within
residential facilities had grown to alarming proportions. Amongst the
findings were the following:

-   Abuse and neglect of the elderly were common within their families,
    in residential facilities, hospitals, at pension pay-points and even
    in government offices;

-   Many older persons lived in abject poverty without any source of
    support, and in most cases are the main providers within their
    families;

-   Lack of access by older persons to social services in rural areas;

-   Lack of information regarding services that are available to older
    persons;

-   Social services for older persons remained highly fragmented, poorly
    managed, racially divided and under-resourced.

I am delighted to say that these matters are receiving attention.
Government has made significant progress in addressing these challenges
that face older persons in South Africa:

**Legislation:** Government has two pieces of legislation that directly
affect older persons. The new **Older Persons Bill** which is being
finalized in parliament, and which is aimed at protecting and promoting
the well being of older persons. The Bill encompasses the main pillars
of the Madrid Plan of Action to which South Africa is signatory, namely
older persons and development, promoting health and well being into
ageing and the creation of an enabling environment; and for our
purposes, amplifies the protection of the rights of older persons from
abuse and neglect. The Bill thus encompasses programmes for development
of older persons, to address the issues of poverty and the changing role
of older parsons in society.