The Minister for Social Development, Ms Bathabile Dlamini, has raised concern about the increasing abuse of older persons in our country. She was speaking at a grandparents day celebration hosted by the Department of Social Development in Piet Retief, Mpumalanga, on October 6.
“Government is concerned about the increasing abuse of older persons in our society. Our elders are subjected to many forms of abuse by people in their families and communities who abuse them physically, emotionally and financially,” said the Minister.
“We receive many reports of older persons being neglected by their families and only receiving attention when their pensions are paid out. Some remove their pension cards from them and use their money without consent, leaving them without food and the other necessities their grants are supposed to cater for,” explained Minister Dlamini.
The Minister called on law enforcement agencies to assist the department in curbing the financial abuse of older persons by loan sharks and other unscrupulous financial institutions that coerce them into buying financial products they don’t need.
“Loan sharks charge exorbitant interest on loans to older persons and trap them in a cycle of debt they cannot get out of. They also confiscate their pension cards and use them illegally,” said the Minister.
Minister Dlamini criticised the rising trend by financial institutions that sell older persons financial products they do not need (e.g. selling older persons more than one funeral policy). She also said that the department is looking into the illegal sale of airtime to older persons.
The Minister called on communities to protect older persons and preserve their rights as they are a valuable resource in society. “The knowledge they possess and their ability to care for children and those who cannot care for themselves make them an important part of our society,” concluded Minister Dlamini.
Grandparents day is celebrated annually on the first Sunday of October. It is hosted as part of Older Persons Week which started on September 30 and concluded on October 6. The theme for this year’s older persons week was “The future we want, what older persons say.”
In continuing with the theme of celebrating older persons, the Department of Social Development will, between October 21 and 25, host an older persons parliament where older persons will present their issues for attention by government.
During this time, the annual general meeting of the National Older Persons Forum a forum advocating issues of older persons will also take place. To encourage active ageing, senior citizens will also participate in the annual Golden Games.
Details of these activities will be communicated in due course.
Enquiries:
Lumka Oliphant on
Cell: 083 484 8067
E-mail: lumkao@dsd.gov.za
