{"id":140468,"date":"2016-12-13T11:40:00","date_gmt":"2016-12-13T09:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/140468\/christmas-fun-for-the-elderly\/"},"modified":"2016-12-13T15:16:33","modified_gmt":"2016-12-13T13:16:33","slug":"christmas-fun-for-the-elderly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2016\/12\/13\/christmas-fun-for-the-elderly\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas fun for the elderly"},"content":{"rendered":"

Christmas came early for Ekurhuleni\u2019s senior citizens as they spent a special day with the executive mayor, Clr Mzwandile Masina and his mayoral committee members at the Germiston Banquet Hall, on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Pensioners, from various townships in Ekurhuleni, were treated to lunch and music by the Khayalethu Old Age Choir.<\/p>

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Masina urged pensioners not to be silent about challenges they face at their respective homes because the metro has programmes to help them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe as the metro thank you for raising us,\u201d he said.<\/p>

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\u201cYour constant guidance has meant a lot; we want you to know we are listening to you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Manager of the Indigent Management Programmes in the Health and Social Development department, Jackie Seritsane, appealed to the elderly not to give money to individuals claiming to be representatives of the municipality even if they have convincing identification.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease don\u2019t give your money to people claiming to be from the metro to collect the money that you owe the municipality,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you have to pay the municipality, visit the offices near you.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have had stories of pensioners being conned by such people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thembi Motha, from Vosloorus Old Age Home, could not hide her excitement about the treats from the metro.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am so happy I don\u2019t know what to say but thank you to the mayor and everyone responsible for this idea of a Christmas party for us pensioners,\u201d said Motha.<\/p>\n

Masabata Tsotetsi, also from Vosloorus, said, \u201cI am very impressed with this event, this is my first time coming and I must say I am overwhelmed and I will invite my neighbours next time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The elderly were also given Christmas hampers.<\/p>\n