Tafta CEO Femada Shamam named chair of global ageing body

DURBAN social worker Femada Shamam has been appointed Chair of the Commonwealth Association for Ageing (CommonAge).

Shamam who is the CEO of The Association for the Aged (Tafta), is the first South African to serve at the helm of a body that shapes ageing policy and advocacy across the Commonwealth.

The appointment, effective in 2026, follows her term as Vice Chair and positions Tafta and South Africa more prominently in international discussions on ageing, elder care, and age-friendly policy.

CommonAge works with governments, civil society organisations and international institutions to promote the rights, wellbeing and inclusion of older persons across Commonwealth countries.

Shamam joined Tafta in 1999 as a newly qualified social worker at John Dunn House in Durban. She was appointed head of Tafta’s social agency in 2003, became chief operations officer in 2016 and chief executive in 2017. She holds a BCom degree and an honours qualification in business management.

Tafta said that under her leadership, it has expanded its operations, providing in-house services to more than 1 800 older persons annually and reaching tens of thousands more through community programmes, advocacy initiatives and wellness projects. 

It said that since 2019, three Tafta residences have received Eden Alternative accreditation, an international standard focused on person-centred care and quality of life.

In 2025, the organisation was named the third top brand in KwaZulu-Natal and received an “Excellence in Active Ageing” award from Global Brands Magazine.

Shamam has also been active in international ageing networks, including the Global Ageing Network, the Pass It On Network and the Global Alliance for the Rights of Older People. She has contributed to global policy discussions through forums such as the International Federation on Ageing and meetings linked to the Commonwealth Heads of Government.

Her appointment as chair places her in a role that helps steer Commonwealth-wide collaboration on ageing, including policy development, advocacy strategies and the sharing of best practice across member states.

For Tafta, the appointment strengthens its international standing. For South Africa, it adds a local voice to global ageing debates at a time when populations are rapidly ageing across both developed and developing economies.

Shamam will lead CommonAge’s work on promoting age-friendly societies, protecting the rights of older persons and advancing coordinated responses to the social and economic impact of ageing across the Commonwealth.