MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Mossel Bay Community Policing Forum (CPF) has partnered with Mossel Bay Correctional Services to establish vegetable gardens at Benevolent Park senior citizens' complex.

According to an article, dated 24 February, by Niémah Davids in the University of Cape Town News: "Increasingly, older people in South Africa are struggling to make ends meet, and the monthly state-funded Older Person’s Grant (OPG) is not nearly enough to get by on.

"Their list of responsibilities is endless, and uppermost is caring for their families. And while Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, announced during his budget speech on Wednesday, 21 February, that the country’s elderly would receive an additional R100, will it fill the hole in their pockets? With the latest increase in place, the elderly will now receive R2 180."

“Social grants alone are not supporting the care needs of older people or their households. The state must turn its attention to introducing community-based care services for older people,” said the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Professor Elena Moore.

The recent decrease in the government elderly food subsidy from R6.00 to R2.00 per day has put a strain on institutions caring for the elderly, leading to unexpected financial expenses.

To address this issue, the policing forum partnered with Mossel Bay Correctional Services to establish vegetable gardens at Benevolent Park.

This initiative aims to help supplement food supplies in the future and provide an opportunity for parolees to make a positive impact in their community.

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