This study is a pastoral care strategy for the affirmation of the dignity of the poor Black older persons. In
this study there is a discussion of how the poor Black older persons suffered the defacement of their
dignity under Apartheid and how to a large extent their dignity is still being defaced under the new
democratic dispensation in South Africa. These poor Black older persons are victims of various forms of
older person abuse. They experience the prejudice of ageism intensely as it is exacerbated by racism; and
with no appropriate medical and health strategies in place to provide quality health care; and with
inappropriate housing, social services, and residential care services, their dignity is denied. Due to past
discriminatory laws and policies these vulnerable older persons suffer the consequences of low levels of
formal education within an environment of engineered poverty and racial discrimination which made it
impossible for them to enter into quality employment which would enable them to provide adequately for
old age. The deprivation thus experienced made it difficult for them to flourish economically and
otherwise. At present they are still marginalised and they experience intense forms of loneliness. These
poor Black older persons continue to suffer humiliation and indignity in spite of legislation and policies
purporting to ensure their well-being. Within a society embracing a neo-liberalist philosophy they are
considered unimportant as they do not contribute productively to the economic well-being of the
community and are therefore relegated to the lowest ranks of society. With the effacement of their dignity
through socially constructed systems their human development is seriously hampered, resulting in a
disintegration of human wholeness. The inequality that the poor Black older persons suffer is an
indictment against humanity as these older persons have the right to feel at home on the planet. Due to the
fact that they are not recognised as having been created in the image and likeness of God, their
uniqueness and distinctness as human beings are denied, their identities distorted, and they are not
considered worthy citizens.