The old persons were on Thursday given advice and toll free number to dial to report any kind of abuse in their families and community, at Phakama secondary school, in Lower Crossroads.

0800 00 30 81 is a toll free number that can make you pay for your bad behaviour toward old people.

Old people were also told about 107 which is an emergency number that can help you for emergencies such as ambulance, police and fire fighters.

Winnie Dywili, a Halt Elder Abuse Line (HEAL) co-ordinator said: “There are different ways of abusing old people such as sexually, financially, emotionally, verbally.

They also get abused in their opinions, and sometimes they get beaten up.

Old people have rights like every one else.

“They must report whatever they do not like. You need to voice out and don’t assume that the situation will be okay if you keep quiet. We keep what you say confidential” she said.

A Ward 35 senior citizens gathering was organised specially for old persons by Boyisile Mafilika, a Ward 35 councillor; Bongani Mini, ward 34 councillor in Philippi and City of Cape Town police.

Mhlanganisi Siswana, an assistant professional facilitator of social development under City of Cape Town said: “We are aiming to highlight the violence against old people.

”Most of the time, we deal with youth and forget about old people. We give them a chance to see that we care for them.

“Old people are like resources in many ways. Most of the time we get information from them which we cannot get from the libraries, so we need to give them respect as young people.”

Old persons can phone anytime and leave a message and address on weekends, then the officials will come and talk to them where they stay.

Old persons also got presents of key holders, pens, cups and socks all with toll free numbers.

Sarah Mahluko, a 72-year-old said: “I feel happy to know about the toll free number to dial when I need help, because we as old people get harassed most of the time.

“ I want to talk about what is bothering me inside. I will call the number and I hope I will get helped,” she said.

Mafilika said: “We do not communicate much with our elders, because of that there was xenophobia. People do not know the history that some of the people who are now in Zimbabwe are originally from KwaZulu Natal.

“People do not know the history about Mzilikazi.”

Mafilika mentioned that the City of Cape Town has a plan to cater for those who can’t do anything for themselves.

The City is helping the pre-schools financially between R10 000 and R20 000 depending on the needs of the centre. It also helps those who are unemployed to put bread on the table by providing jobs to sweep the streets. There is a sum of R500 000 set aside for that.