Statistics show that elder abuse is widespread in South Africa and that it is on the increase.
The annual national The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign that rallies against domestic violence and abuse officially kicks off nationwide on 25 November.
When domestic violence is mentioned people mostly think of men abusing their female partners or violence against children.
There are many cases, such as reported in Weslander over the past two years, in which adult offspring, some of them under the influence of drugs or alcohol, abuse or attack their elderly parents or grandparents.
According to Captain Tania Helfrich, a spokesperson for the West Coast Police District, local police members in different West Coast towns that make up the district want to make their communities more aware of elderly abuse, which mostly happens in secrecy, behind closed doors.
As part of the local police’s run-up to the 16 Days, Sergeant Morné Denton of the Laaiplek police addressed the congregation of the Velddrif Dutch Reformed church on 20 November. He spoke about domestic violence against senior citizens and the fact that vulnerable elderly people are in most cases targeted by criminals when it comes to online, banking and telephone fraud.
According to a recent press release by the Western Cape Department of Social Development the abuse of elderly people happens mostly in their own homes, or while living with family and in facilities responsible for their well-being.
There are various forms of abuse and mistreatment that range from from physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and financial exploitation.
People who intentionally or unintentionally neglect to care for an elderly person is also considered to be abuse.
The Department of Social Development works closely with non-government organisations to prevent elder abuse. If you suspect elder abuse, you can contact your nearest Social Development office.
There are non-governmental organisations that deal with abuse of the elderly and whose mandate includes social-work intervention services, counselling, awareness campaigns and initiatives. You can contact Irene Snell-Caroll at Age in Action (Western Cape) on 021 423 0204 or send het an e-mail on irene@age-in-action.co.za.
Alternatively you can report a human rights violation to the South African Human Rights Commission (Western Cape). Contact Shafeeqah Salie on 021 426 2277 or send an e-mail to ssalie@sahrc.org.za or sahrcinfo@sahrc.org.za.
The West Coast Police District will officially launch its local 16 Days campaign at the Multi-purpose Centre in Saldanha on 28 November.
