15 December 2006
The Minister of Social Development, Dr Zola Skweyiya, has strongly condemned
the abuse of older persons in the country, and calls for vigilance and action
by communities to root out this scourge.
The Minister was responding to the incidents of older person abuse and
criminality directed at older persons, reported in the media this week and in
recent times.
In Pretoria this week, Mr Ray Rausch (76) was shot dead in Garsfontein,
while Mr Hans Coetzee and his wife Dalene (both 85), were attacked by intruders
at their home. The abuse of older persons is a growing social problem in South
Africa and occurs across all economic, ethnic, religious, gender and cultural
groups.
Other than common crime, some older persons are victims of abuse from
members of their own families, in their communities and in old age homes.
âSome older persons are abused by their own children and grandchildren. Some
are kicked out of their own homes and end up living in the streets. Others are
assaulted and denied food and medical care. Criminals also take advantage and
attack homes in which vulnerable older persons live. This has to come to an
end. Communities need to work together with law enforcement agencies and social
workers to bring this abuse to an end," said Dr Skweyiya.
Dr Skweyiya added that older persons play a critical role in the community
and should be respected and treated with dignity. "The role of older persons
has changed drastically, and societal challenges in our communities have given
older persons more responsibilities. Due to HIV and AIDS, grandparents in many
families have become primary caregivers for their grandchildren whose parents
have succumbed to AIDS, during a period when they should be the ones being
cared for. In addition, due to poverty and unemployment, many households rely
on the pensions of older family members," he said.
There are different kinds of abuse that older persons fall victim to,
namely:
* Physical abuse: any act that result in injury or death of an older person
through the use of any physical means. For example: slapping, hitting, pushing,
rough handling, cutting, and use of any chemical or physical restraints,
administering incorrect or excessive medication or any act that causes injury,
physical discomfort, over-sedation or death.
* Sexual abuse: any act of sexual harassment or violation of an older
person.
* Psychological, emotional and verbal abuse: a pattern of degrading or
humiliating conduct, verbal or non-verbal, towards an older person, which
results in impaired psychological or emotional functioning. For example:
rejection, isolation or oppression, deprivation of affection and cognitive
stimulation, name-calling or ridicule, accusations and expectations.
* Financial or economic abuse or exploitation: the illegal or fraudulent use of
older personsâ grant, property, valuables, assets or money, without their
consent or full understanding or knowledge of the consequences thereof, or
under duress.
* Neglect: not providing or withholding care and basic necessities required for
physical and mental well-being. For example: lack of food, warmth, shelter,
clothing, medication, emotional support, stimulation and self-neglect.
* Violation of human rights is the denial of fundamental rights such as respect
for, dignity, personal privacy, and freedom of thought, belief, opinion,
speech, expression and movement of older people. For example: witchcraft
(especially older women displaying characteristics associated with ageing and
perceived as participating in witchcraft), which may result in stigmatisation,
exclusion, physical harm and death.
The Department of Social Development will soon keep a register of persons
convicted of abuse or any crime pertaining to older persons, in order to curb
the scourge. This requirement, contained in the new Older Persons Act, will
ensure that any person whose name appears in the register is prohibited from
operating a residential facility, employment at any residential facility or
from providing any communityâbased care and support service to older
persons.
The Department has also developed a Protocol on the Management of Elder
Abuse in the country to provide guidelines on how to deal with the scourge. Any
member of the public who notices neglect, exploitation, ill-treatment or abuse
of an older person, or has good reason to suspect that it is occurring, must
report it to the authorities.
Steps to follow:
Report the abuse or suspected abuse to the Chief Social Worker at the Social
Development office or police station nearest to where you live.
Report the abuse anonymously to HEAL (Halt Elder Abuse Line) at 0800 003 081
or the Social Development toll-free helpline 0800 601 011.
Enquiries:
Lakela Kaunda
Cell: 082 782 2575
Issued by: Department of Social Development
15 December 2006
