08 Jul 2026

Smiles filled the Hukuntsi Post Office on July 6 as elderly pension beneficiaries were treated to breakfast by the Office of the District Commissioner while waiting to collect their monthly pensions, a gesture that underscored the importance of caring for senior citizens.

For majority of the elderly, pension day often comes with long queues, physical fatigue, and health-related challenges that make prolonged standing or waiting particularly difficult, especially for those living with chronic illnesses and mobility limitations. 

The Monday good gesture, therefore, offered more than just a meal; it provided comfort and relief in an environment where access to seating, shade, and basic amenities is often limited.

As pensioners settled in with cups of tea, bread, and soup, the usual strain associated with pension collection day was softened by a sense of care and community, turning a routine administrative process into a more dignified and humane experience.

The District Commissioner, Ms Veronica Rabakane said the idea for the breakfast initiative was inspired by the sight of elderly pension beneficiaries queuing outside the post office early in the morning during the cold winter season. 

 She said that as officers travelled to work each month, they would often see senior citizens arriving long before opening hours to secure their place in the queue, which prompted her office to find a meaningful way to make their wait more comfortable.

Ms Rabakane stated that the breakfast was organised as a surprise by the Office of the District Commissioner to express appreciation for the elderly and to let them know that their well-being mattered.

“The initiative was inspired by biblical teachings that encourage giving as an expression of love. 

As Batswana we have a responsibility to care for one another,” she said adding that the breakfast was a seed of kindness that would hopefully grow and have a lasting impact on the community.

The breakfast was the Hukuntsi’s Office of the District Commissioner first initiative and the office would like to make it a regular event although not monthly due to financial challenges.

On his part, Kgosi Merapelo Tshweneyagae said the breakfast initiative was a demonstration of love, care, and respect for the elderly.  

He said the gesture reflected the Office of the District Commissioner’s commitment to ensuring that senior citizens felt valued and appreciated, adding that it should reassure them that they were not taken for granted but remained important members of the community.

Postal Supervisor, Ms Gorata Ishmael, commended the Office of the District Commissioner for organising the breakfast, describing the initiative as  demonstration of care and concern for senior citizens. 

She said the initiative had also highlighted the need for a shelter at the Hukuntsi Post Office to protect pensioners from harsh weather conditions while waiting to collect their monthly stipends.

Speaking on behalf of the elderly beneficiaries, Mr Thekololo Molatole expressed gratitude to the Office of the District Commissioner for organising the breakfast, describing it as a thoughtful and unprecedented gesture. 

He said the initiative had given them hope and encouraged them to look forward to similar acts of kindness in the future.

Mr Molatole also appealed to the Office of the District Commissioner to consider addressing the need for a shelter at the Hukuntsi Post Office, saying it would provide much-needed protection for elderly pension beneficiaries from both the cold winter mornings and the intense summer heat while they waiting to collect their monthly pensions. ENDS