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Meneer die seremoniemeeste, Waarnemende Direkteur-generaal, dames en here.

Dit is vir my 'n aangename voorreg om vanaand 'n paar gedagte met u te wissel. As onderwerp gaan ek met u gesels oor veroudering met 'n Afrika benadering.

Ek vra myself af, wat is 'n Afrika benadering? As ek na die Suid-Afrikaanse en Afrika omstandighede kyk, dan staan die gesin sentraal in elke samelewing. Binne die gesin het die ouers en kinders ook 'n kleiner binnekring van familie wat gewoonlik bestaan uit grootouers, broers en susters, ooms en tantes. Hierdie uigebreide gesinsisteem deel in mekaar se lief en leed.

Dit is hier waar 'n persoon ondersteuning kry. Dit is hier waar 'n mens soms gekritiseer word. Dit is hier waar 'n mens ten spyte van goeie en slegte eienskappe, nog steeds verilig voel - nog steeds aanvaar word. Dit is hier waar 'n mens nie sonder meer uigeskop word nie. Dit is hier waar mense mekaar ook verdra.

Omdat ons die Internasionale Dag van die Bejaarde vier, gaan ek ook in besonder na die ouer persoon in die gesinsisteem verwys. Die ouer persoon geniet erkenning, beveiliging, deelname aan besluitneming, waardering vir sy waardige rol binne die uigebreide gesinsisteem. En wanneer hy of sy uiteindelik aangewese is op versoring, is die gesinsen familielede steeds daar om 'bydrae te maak tot die persoon se versorging. Met hierdie unieke stelsel het 'n ouer persoon nie nodig om vir sy oudag te vrees nie.

U weet egter net so goed soos ek, dat hierdie prentjie in werklikheid nie altyd so rooskleuring is nie. U weet, toe die Departement die Internasionale Dag van die Bejaarde verlede jaar gevier het, is daar 'n aankondiging gemaak dat wat bejaardesorg betref, daar van koers verander moet word. Daar is verskeie geldige redes waarom 'n koersverandering noodsaaklik is.

Die een rede is dat die getal ouer mense w�reldwyd ouer word. As ons voortgaan met dieselfde wyse van versorging van ouer mense soos in die verlede, sal ons in die toekoms minder mense kan help wat versorging nodig het.

Another reason is that the Government is spending more or less R11 billion for the current financial year on social security only which includes old age grants. Approximately 85 % of the total welfare budget is being spent on social security. The high percentage of the budget spent on social security, makes less money available to render services to older people.

Another important factor is that only an insignificant number of people are currently making financial provision for retirement and old age. It is estimated that more or less 2 million economic active people in our country do not or are not in the position to make any provision for their old age. This will inevitably put pressure on the Government in the future to provide in their needs through a social security system. Less money will be available to address needs and to provide services. A change of direction is therefore an urgent need.

An important mile-stone has been reached today with the institution of the Discussion Group on Ageing. One of the objectives of the Discussion Group will be to identify the most burning issues and to come to the fore with proposals.

The Discussion Group will also advise the Department on the principles for an affordable and sustainable dispensation for ageing. These principles will be relented in future legislation and policy.

The active participation of older persons in the activities of the Discussion Group and its work committees is also in line with the principles on aged persons approved by the United Nations. A new dispensation will therefore be designed in a people driven, legitimate, transparent and representative way. I have high expectations of the Discussion Group and looking forward for their recommendations.

We cannot look for answers outside the African continent. We must design an indigenous and true South African approach to ageing. Let us apply the "UBUNTU" principle.

The concept "UBUNTU" cannot be defined in one single definition. I quote Dr Nono Makhudu of the Human Sciences Research Council, who says that among other things it can be described as "the humanistic experience in which all people are treated with respect and as human beings, in dignity by each other".

What I immediately realise is that this definition is related to the Principles of the Elderly, which were approved by the United Nation's General Assembly as well as our constitution. Dignity and respect for each other can be seen as the cornerstones of human behaviour and relationships. "UBUNTU" or African humanness does not only form the basis of an "African world view" but also "runs through the veins" of all Africans. I believe that "UBUNTU" is applicable to all races.

"UBUNTU" can be recognised by the following characteristics:-

mutual respect and understanding

unconditional positive regard

genuiness, congruence, authenticity

empathy

trust

equal treatment

open communication

approachability

shared world view.

Do you see what I mean? With these characteristics it is clear that this concept applies to the older people as well as the younger generation. We cannot exist without one another's closeness in any situation - good or bad. We have a responsibility towards each other.

What is more valuable in respect to the word "UBUNTU" is the fact that each letter signifies a different characteristic of this concept, namely:

UNCOVER, UNEARTH, UNRAVEL

BUILD AND BRIDGE

UNDERSTAND

NEW INFORMATION, NEW INPUT

TRANSFORMATION AND INTEGRATION

UTILISATION AND UNIFICATION

Did you discover in Dr Makhudu's concept characteristics which can be made applicable with regard to ageing? I did, and I wish to share a few with you.

UNCOVER, UNEARTH, UNRAVEL

Older persons can function independently. They can participate within the community according to their abilities and skills. They are able to pursue opportunities for the development of their potential. They can live in dignity after retirement. Let us uncover our prejudices and give them the opportunity to develop to self-fulfilment.

BUILD AND BRIDGE

Let us build on proper relationships between the older and younger generations and bridge the so-called generation gaps by acknowledging older persons' leadership, skills and expertise.

Older persons have experienced several transitional phases during their life time. I believe that older persons, coupled with their knowledge about cultural differences and their skills, are considered to be the most suitable group to bridge the existing gaps between the different population groups.

UNDERSTAND

Let us understand that older persons prefer not to be neglected or classified as a subculture. Let us utilise their skills and motivate them to be used after retirement.

NEW INFORMATION, NEW INPUT

We find ourselves in a transitional phase, not only with regard to a new government, but with regard to ageing in this country. Let us take the lead in the promotion of older persons' abilities, their involvement in the community and with fellow older persons. Let us market our ideas to the whole of Africa.

TRANSFORMATION AND INTEGRATION

Let us be creative in developing new models for age management in a new dispensation. Let us promote the idea and develop opportunities to enable older persons to the part and parcel of an aged-integrated society.

UTILISATION AND UNIFICATION

The skill is to utilise older persons to their full extent after retirement and to unite older and younger generations in an extended family again. This is where children as well as older persons experience security and this is where they belong.

Ek sien nei veroudering as 'n probleem nie. Veroudering is 'n natuurlike en normale ontwikkelingsproses. Trouens, ons is almal daagliks gekonfronteer met die feit dat ons ouer word. Ons ervaar dit, ontken dit, wil niks daaromtrent doen nie en dink eers daarvaan dat aftrede op een of ander stadium ook vir elkeen van ons gaan aanbreek nie. Ek dink dis normaal om so op te tree. Met groter worndende getalle ouer mense en die langer lewensverwagting van mans en vroue, kan ons egter nie bekostig om te wag totdat veroudering 'n probleem word, voordat ons iets daaraan doen nie.

Trouens, ek lees nou die dag in die koerant dat Japan se honderdjariges en ouer in die afgelope 30 jaar met 37% persent toegeneem het. Hierdie tendens sensiteer ons om meer noukeurige statistiek vir beplanningsdoeleindes in die toekoms by te hou. Ons statistieke dui alreeds daarop dat die getal mense ouer as 80 jaar vinniger toeneem as di� tussen 65 jaar en 80 jaar.

Dit is hierdie mense wat uiteindelik groter eise aan die versogers en welsynorganisasies gaan stel.

U weet, ek kry dikwels die indruk dat die gemeenskap dink 'n ouer mens het geen plus punte nie. Ek will die teendeel probeer bewys. Dit wat 'n ouer persoon deur lewenservaring verwerf het, kan niemand van hom wegneem nie.

Die ouer persoon het deur die jare 'n bepaalde vaardighede ontwikkel en beskik oor moontlike leierseienskappe. Hierdie persoon is dikwels bereid om sy kennis en vaardighede met ander persone te deel.

Wat ek dus probeer s� en dit sluit aan by die "UBUNTU" gedagte, is dat ouer persone hulleself nog steeds as deel van die gemeenskap beskou. Hulle wil steeds 'n aktiewe bydrae maak. Hulle verlang om met die nodige agting en respek behandel te word. Hulle wil steeds erkenning ontvang vir die wat hulle bereid is om te doen.

'n Ouer persoon het die reg om as 'n gewaardeerde lid van die samelewing beskou en aanvaar te word. U weet ek gaan vanaand waarskynlik 'n paar opmerkings maak waarvan die gemeenskap nie baie gaan hou nie. Sommige ouer persone sal waarskynlik ook nie met my saamstem oor wat ek gaan kwytraak nie. U moet my maar vergewe, maar in belang van 'n nuwe bedeling is dit noodsaaklik dat ons by "UBUNTU" se middelste "U" uitkom Naamlik "UNDERSTANDING" of begrip.

Ek kry soms die indruk dat daar by die gemeenskap die persepsie bestaan dat 'n afgetrede of ouer persoon nie langer in staat is om 'n afgetrede of ouer persoon nie langer in staat is om 'n bydrae in die gemeenskap te maak nie.

Hierdie mite wil ek sommer vinnig die nek inslaan. Hoeveel staatshoofde is daar nie wat op 'n gevordere ouderdom nog meer as hulle bydrae gelewer het nie? Dit is nou mense soos vir Winston Churchill van Engeland, mnr De Gaulle van Frankryk, mev Meir van Israel en ons huidige staatshoof. Op relatief gevordere ouederdomme het hierdie politiki belangrike en beduidende rolle in hulle onder skeie gemeenskappe gespeel.

In ons samelewing is daar selfs akteurs wat tot op gevordere ouderdom not aktief is op die verhoog en televisie. Ek is mos sport mal- en daarom gee ek ook erkenning aan Wally Hayward wat tot op 'n baie gevorderde leeftyd nog kans gesien het om die "Comrades" te hardloop.

Daar is nog baie meer onbekende mense wat nie belangrike posisies in die samelewing beklee nie, maar daagliks baie belangrike en positiewe bydraes in hulle gemeenskap maak. Hierdie is die sout van die aarde mense waarsonder geen gemeenskap kan funksioneer nie.

Trouens, die ouer persone wat vanaand hier teenwoordig is, se name verskyn nie gereeld in die koerant nie. Ons sien ook nie almal se gesigte op die televisie nie. Ons wil vanaand ook aan u ons erkenning en waardering gee vir die bydrae wat u in u onderskeie gemeenskappe maak. Ek is oortuig daarvan dat dit nie u koppe is wat gedraai moet word nie. U is egter ons instrumente om ander mense se koppe te help draai sodat ons 'n nuwe bedeling kan inisieer.

Ons het hierdie gewillige ouer mense nodig .... en die gemeenskap moet hulle gebruik ..... hulle het ook vir u nodig.

The important message is therefore, that older persons should be enabled to be an integral part of society and community life. Once a person has retired, he or she has not finished his or her task - they are valued potential.

The other side of the coin is - older people do not want to be associated with older persons only. Any society consists of people of all ages - from babies to very old persons. We cannot allow to separate older persons from the younger generations. They still have an important role to play.

How will children ever learn to relate to older persons if they are not exposed to them. How will they ever learn to manage difficult relationships with older persons, without being exposed? Don't we often support the idea to "get rid" of older persons rather than copying with them in a three generation household for instance?

Older persons should not necessarily be included in a three generation household. If they are still maintaining an independent lifestyle, a need still exists for exposure between grandchildren and grandparents. The latter fulfils the caring task when parent s are absent for longer or shorter periods. On the other hand, children need a relaxed relationship with older persons, other than those with their parents.

I know what I am going to say now is contractictory to what I have previously said. Grandparents in developing communities currently play a significant role in bringing up their grandchildren. the children's parents are absent for a specific reason - perhaps to obtain better job opportunities or housing.

These grandparents fulfil an enormous task. They have to be loving carers as well as educators. Their function therefore differs from those of traditional grannies and grand dads who can afford to spoil their grandchildren. I want to extend my appreciation to these grandparents for their willingness to fulfil this important task. I know that you make sacrifices, but you make a wonderful investment with regard to your grandchildren.

When I touch on this issue, I realise that the South African community is very unique. I mentioned these differences without referring to the richness in cultures in our society. As people coming from different cultured, we are living in a country where various future shifts will be a reality.

In our country a transition from care of the aged to age management is a prerequisite for a new dispensation. The emphasis is therefore placed on the "UBUNTU" concept. The emphasis is on close-knit family relationships as well as community involvement. Another shift is the emphasis on older persons in managing themselves within family and community environments. This is the reason why I emphasised the skills of older persons as valuable potential.

But this brings me to another important aspect namely the development of an African culture regarding ageing. With the richness and presence of a variety of cultures in our country, we are in the position of developing different models of age management and caring models. In this manner we will be able to build respect, equal treatment and bridge existing differences.

Let us then implement these models and take the lead in Africa in the development of multi-cultural models. Within our colourful new dispensation we have to learn so much from one another and we have so much to offer each other.

May we experience an "UBUNTU" concept with regard to age management. With these ideas I wish you success in you endeavours to promote a better future for you and all older persons in this country.

Thank You
williams [w] 23/11