Christmas carols were blaring from speakers set up at Lotus River Place on Wednesday 14 December as the residents of the old-age home got ready to party.
Presiding over their annual Christmas party was Zyboedien Abrahams who describes himself as “the only Muslim Santa Claus in the world”.
Together with his wife Zurayda and three-year-old son Zynoedien, they make up the singing group called Thee A2 in 1.
For the past 10 years (formerly known as Thee A2), the family has held music therapy sessions and MC’d events at various old-age homes and senior clubs.
On Wednesday, Zyboedien appeared in front of the Lotus River Place residents, wearing a floral shirt, a short and red Crocs.
“Today I am Father Christmas with a twist,” he said. “Santa Clause’s clothes could not be ironed because we had loadshedding.”
Next, he asked the small crowd who had been naughty and who had been nice.
“Ons is almal stout (we are all naughty),” came the reply from an excited resident in a wheelchair.
Zyboedien, who is a builder by day, shares they started their moonlighting venture with the purpose of going to old-age homes in underprivileged areas.
“Music is good for the soul. It is like therapy. If I sing certain songs to them, it takes them back. I can see it in their eyes. I can see it in their movement; taking them back to a time when they were young. My job is just to make them extra happy,” he says.
No Christmas gathering, however, would be complete without presents. Adding this sparkle to the residents’ festive day was Blue Route Mall who attended the event bearing gifts.
Earlier this month, the mall took part in the Senior Santa Shoebox initiative. Over the past four weeks, Blue Route Mall and Senior Santa Shoebox wrapped and packed 286 boxes. Of these, 121 were delivered to Lotus River Place while the rest went to Mandoline Place in Steenberg and Ladies Christian Home in Gardens.
Shoppers were encouraged to participate in the Senior Santa Shoebox initiative by way of a small donation.
Bronwyn Rabie, Regional Marketing and Alternative Income Manager, Redefine Properties, says a largely forgotten sector of the community, thousands of seniors are left ignored and abandoned in homes, with little to no social contact.
“A situation that can often result in abuse and neglect. The Senior Santa Shoebox aims to redress this imbalance and to show the elderly that they continue to be worthy and valued,” says Rabie.
According to Senior Santa Shoebox co-founder Angela Gorman, the organisation was established eight years ago, starting with Doordrift Lodge (now called Constantia Place), a retirement facility in Plumstead.
“Today we assist 11 homes across the Peninsula. And we don’t just work at Christmas. We are called Senior Santa but we do work in the homes all year round.”
Besides organising collections, such as nappy donations, the organisation also holds a “wishing tree” in the middle of the year. Gorman says this initiative has been incredible.
“We had a man at Oakhaven Place in Heideveld who wanted a saxophone. And then somebody had a boyfriend who had given her a saxophone and it sat in her garage for 10 years. So she gave it to him and he was just the happiest man in the world. He was 84 and he was playing the sax,” she says.
She adds that besides old-age homes, they also focus on welfare homes, responding to where the need is greatest.
She says, in quite a few cases, families try to get rid of the elderly staying with them as soon as their medical expenses start to exceed their Sassa (South African Social Security Agency) grants.
“And they put them in homes and sometimes the story is terrible. For example, one man told his mom he was taking her shopping and she got her handbag. Instead he dropped her at a home and she never saw him again.”
Gorman says often the elderly arrive at these homes with nothing.
“We are able to take them some clothes, take them some toiletries and things like that.”
She says what is both heartbreaking and encouraging is the feedback that they receive from residents.
“You don’t realise it but there was one man who hadn’t had a visitor for 19 years, and the lady who made his box just made it so special. She put his name on a mug and she put his name on a beanie.” She says when they put gifts together, they try to make it personal.
“We put the people’s names on them – who it is for and who it is from. So you know that somebody has recognised you or somebody has seen you. This is so important because often the elderly feel like they’re invisible, that nobody cares anymore.”
