CHRISTMAS will come early for 600 Mdantsane pensioners and Second Creek residents when Executive Mayor Zintle Peter hosts a lunch for them on Sunday, 10 December.

This historic gesture is sponsored by the Executive Mayor's Office, in partnership with South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) and AllPay Eastern Cape, the company responsible for the distribution of social grants in the province.

Speaking about her visit to these disadvantaged areas, Peter said it was important that she used this time of the year to give back to the underprivileged communities of Buffalo City. "When [I was] inducted as the mayor of Buffalo City, my pledge was to focus on the underprivileged of our society, a society that I identify with."

Because Buffalo City covered a vast area, this would not be a once off gesture. "This annual event will form part of my social responsibility programme for my next five years in office. I will use ward councillors to identify the elderly who are really needy," Peter said, adding that all citizens of Buffalo City should cultivate a sense of giving during the festive season.

Turning her attention back to Sunday's event, which would also draw pensioners from Duncan Village, Scenery Park and Reeston, Peter said that Buffalo City would first serve a lunch to the elderly in Mdantsane and food parcels would be distributed.

"For Second Creek residents, my aim is to share a light lunch with them and to also distribute food parcels that have been kindly donated by Sassa and AllPay," she said. "I would [like] to express my heartfelt thanks to Sassa and AllPay for sharing our vision of being a giving city [through] their joint sponsorship of R190 000."

To ensure elderly folk across the city benefit, the annual event will take place in different parts of Buffalo City each year. Invitations to the Sunday lunch will also be extended to 15 women who will be celebrating their centenaries.