- Siyakha Adult group founder Joyce Dayimane says some elders are left raising grandchildren while the children’s mothers leave with their Sassa cards.
- Members meet three times a week to talk, support one another and sew aprons and traditional dresses to raise money.
For elderly people carrying family troubles, a cup of coffee and someone who listens can make a difference.
That is what the Siyakha Adult group offers its members in Site C, Khayelitsha, Cape Town.
Founder Joyce Dayimane, 83, started the group in 2013 after seeing the stress elderly people faced at home.
“They were not only stressed but they were also abused emotionally because they were left with their grandchildren while the mothers had left with their Sassa cards,” said Dayimane.
The group meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, giving members a place to speak openly and seek advice.
Each member contributes R100 from their monthly grant towards refreshments and occasional cooked meals.
“We each contribute R100 from our monthly grant to buy coffee, sugar, and milk, and sometimes we do cook a full meal so that while we are having these conversations we have them over a meal or coffee,” said Dayimane.
Members also sew aprons and Xhosa traditional dresses, charging R100 or R200 to bring in extra money.
Dayimane said the sewing keeps them busy while helping cover the group’s costs.
She said members caring for grandchildren also encourage one another to approach social workers for help with grant-related problems.
For Nomandiya Tshongweni, 78, the group means having people her age who understand what she is going through.
“Having a safe space to talk is good for our health; we no longer bottle things up like we used to do,” said Tshongweni.
“If we are being abused we talk freely with other elderly people, and some have been where we are and they know how to overcome those problems.”
She said sharing their experiences helps members find advice and relief.
“They give us advice and we are no longer having sleepless nights,” said Tshongweni.
Newly elected ward councillor Phindile George said the group had previously received stoves, pots and other items through ward allocations.
George said City rules no longer allowed the councillor’s office to buy those items.
“However, as the incoming ward councillor, I will look into other methods of supporting these groups,” said George.
