The Deputy Prime Minister, Senator Thulisile Dladla, has called on families across Eswatini to ensure their elderly relatives are well cared for, encouraging those without caregivers to bring them to the Mankayane Old Age Home and Facility for Persons with Disabilities.
She spoke on Friday, 13th February 2026, during the Thanksgiving Celebration Ceremony at the facility, expressing satisfaction at seeing residents treated with dignity. The Home currently accommodates 48 elderly residents and 20 persons with disabilities, while the Halfway House shelters 30 children.
“It is the responsibility of everyone to care for their parents after raising them. Once they are taken to the facility, we urge relatives to visit them,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
She acknowledged that some elderly people resist moving to the facility due to fears over land reallocation or a desire to remain near the graves of loved ones despite health challenges.
Senator Dladla also thanked Their Majesties for the vision to establish the centre and applauded the Republic of China Taiwan for funding the project. She further urged citizens to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a violence-free manner.
Ndzingeni MP Gcina Magagula, chairperson of the DPMO Portfolio Committee, praised the Deputy Prime Minister for her efforts in caring for vulnerable groups, noting her positive impact nationwide.
On behalf of the residents, Gogo Vilakati expressed gratitude to the centre and its staff. “We are never hungry here. Early in the morning we receive our soft porridge, we drink tea, we are served lunch and supper something I have never seen in my life. The water is hot and we bathe anytime we wish,” she said.
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