A group of elderly men who are over 90-years-old have come together in a forum that aims to teach social cohesion, moral regeneration and rekindle family values among the young people of Hlolweni village outside Bizana in the Eastern Cape.
They say they're doing this to build a drug and crime-free society. They teach young people about eating healthy foods, respect for elders and indigenous knowledge.
Hlolweni is a remote village, where the presence of elderly people is seen as a blessing. The initiative was prompted by an increase in infectious diseases, especially among young people. The preservation of family values is what drove them to take the initiative.
Speaking on behalf of the forum, George Dotye who was born in 1918 details a few things that young people should refrain from: “Drug and alcohol abuse is the main enemy for the current generation. Sleeping around attracts more infectious diseases like HIV/ Aids, one needs not to have multiple relationships; young people must refrain from being outside there, but take wise words from the elderly. But if they continue doing things that are against the will of their parents they will not live longer.”
Dotye believes that leaders have a huge role to play to promote moral regeneration. He says infighting will make South Africa a laughing stock.
“If our leaders can come together and lead this country with peace and harmony there will be more positive things for our future generation. But if we continue to fight among ourselves, we will never achieve what we want to because infighting is a demon that can mislead our dreams to the wilderness.”
He says freedom is one precious gift that people should never forget as things were hard during apartheid years.
Men For Development of South Africa, an organisation that deals with men's issues has commended these elderly people from Hlolweni for their initiative.
“It is very important that elderly people they do have such initiatives that will help in building our communities, more especially the youth, because there is a lot that we can learn from the elderly, but it is just that before there was not a lot of time of their involving to ensure that there are programmes that are geared to involve youth so that they become good and responsible in the future,” says Ozy Phiri.
Meanwhile, Social Development spokesperson Mzukisi Solani says the Department will always support programmes geared towards nation building.
Stakeholders believe that more government departments should form part of the initiative to save young people from the scourge of drug abuse.
By Nkululeko Nyembezi
27 February 2017
