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Elderly South Africans to be honoured

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The international Day of Older Persons will be celebrated on 1 October, a day designated by the United Nations and in honour of this, President Jacob Zuma will on Sunday launch week-long festivities by hosting a party for older persons from all nine provinces.

Older Persons Week in South Africa will be observed from 30 September to 6 October and on the last day Grandparents Day will be celebrated.

President Zuma will initiate national celebrations and dialogues that will focus on the role, rights and wellbeing of older persons in society as well as celebrate their contribution to today’s South Africa.

Older persons

The UN each year provides the theme for the commemoration of International Day of Older Persons,  considering the challenges facing older persons globally.

This year's theme is "The future we want, what older persons say" and all activities will focus around this theme.

President Zuma has urged all South Africans to take Older Persons Week seriously:  "We will be observing the rights and dignity of a generation of older persons who were affected by the country's troubled past.

"They worked hard and raised their children and grandchildren and cared for families as best as they could.

Critical contribution

"The majority were denied decent education and they were forcibly removed from their homes and suffered immeasurable loss, but they survived", said the president.

He urged families and households to ensure that much attention is paid to grandparents in particular on 6 October, Grandparents Day, in the same manner that mothers and fathers are honoured on Mother's Day and Father's Day in the country.

"In giving expression to the UN theme, South Africa will acknowledge the critical contribution that older persons have made in the development of South Africa", said President Zuma.

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