Cape Town - The care of the elderly was equally the responsibility of society, and not solely that of the state, according to the provincial Department of Social Development.
In just the first quarter of 2024/2025, 15 cases of elder abuse had been reported to authorities.
One of these cases includes the Kraaifontein granny, Sindiwe Ngqaza, 82, who was seen on a viral video being attacked by her grandson, Luvo Ngqaza.
The shocking video surfaced in June and he was subsequently arrested and he is now out on bail.
This week, a case was brought to the media’s attention after a 27-year-old man was arrested over the rape of his grandmother, aged 73. He remains in custody until September 2.
Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said in another incident, a 64-year-old Kraaifontein woman was fatally wounded at the corner of Maroela and Ntongabini Streets in Wallacedene on Tuesday.
Social Development MEC, Jaco Londt, said: “The department is aware of the case of alleged sexual assault of an elderly woman. Social workers have made contact, and psychosocial support is offered to the woman. An assessment is being conducted, which will determine the most appropriate course of intervention.
“Quarter one of 2024/25 financial year: 15 cases of elder abuse reported to the department.”
Londt said he strongly condemned abuse against vulnerable persons such as the elderly, women, and children.
Action Society’s Kaylynn Palm said they were concerned about these cases relating to elderly people, whether be sexual, physical assault, rape.
“At the same time, it’s encouraging that we see people coming forward to report these cases. We do feel that these cases are under-reported. Speaking to community leaders and crime fighters, it’s clear that these cases are happening in our communities but senior citizens don’t come forward.
“They could be scared of the perpetrators, or they have no faith in the justice system, or they don’t want to go through the legal process.”
She said more needed to be done in terms of awareness and campaigns to target senior citizens, so that they knew what they could do and which channels to go to.
“The community can also get involved in assisting the elderly.”
In a groundbreaking study, researchers at the University of Cape Town (UCT) have explored the intricate challenges of elderly care in South Africa. Their findings highlight the growing tensions that exist among family caregivers, care workers, and the government.
The study explored family caregiving in four Southern African countries, focusing on who provides care for older persons and the support they receive. Tensions arose between paid (home-based carers) and unpaid (family caregivers), leading to further investigation into why family caregivers felt unsupported and why home-based carers sometimes perceived family caregivers as neglectful.
UCT researcher, Professor Elena Moore, and her team organised community meetings in various Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal communities.
“These gatherings brought together older persons, family caregivers, home-based carers, social workers, clinic nursing staff, religious organisations, and non-profit organisations who serve older persons. For many, these meetings were the first opportunity to engage with one another outside the confines of private households,” she explained.
Moore and her colleagues discovered that the difficulties faced in elderly care were frequently perceived as individual concerns, but were deeply rooted in systemic issues. Through their discussions, participants gained a deeper understanding of these overarching, systemic limitations. As a result, Moore and her team are now exploring ways to enhance state funding and support for community care.
“A review of the Department of Social Development's spending on older persons from 2006 to 2023 revealed a troubling trend: a 13% decrease in spending on community care for older persons, despite a growing elderly population,” added Moore.
“These financial cuts are particularly concerning, given the national policy that prioritises ‘ageing in place,’ which supports older persons living at home for as long as possible,” Moore said.
“However, the state's budget allocation is not aligned with this policy, leading to insufficient funding for community care services and exacerbating tensions between family caregivers and paid care workers.
“The current lack of adequate funding and support has strained the relationships between family caregivers and care workers, with both parties often blaming each other for the shortcomings of the system,” she added.
Londt said there were many ways people and businesses could support these valuable institutions, whether monetary or by volunteering their time by spending it with the residents.
“Older persons have access to information about their rights, the range of services available to them and how to access them. Services to older persons are transformed so that 80% have access to community-based support services that promote self-reliance and inter-generational bonding.
“All residential services are well managed, comply with minimum standards and implement programmes that promote the well-being, safety and security of older persons.”