KwaZulu-Natal’s (KZN) Social Development portfolio committee recently conducted public consultations across the province on the Older Persons Amendment Bill – and while many generally agreed with the changes, there were also some very pertinent issues raised.
The first of these is that many of KZN’s elderly citizens feel abandoned by provincial government. Struggles with dementia – and the resultant abuse – are affecting many and while the amendment seeks to protect them, there needs to be interventions into educating our youth on this disease and other related illnesses affecting the elderly.
KZN’s elderly also feel that SAPS is not doing enough to protect them. Perpetrators of abuse are often not arrested and dealt with effectively and are soon back in the same communities or families that they are terrorizing. This has led to many of KZN’s senior citizens losing faith in our country’s justice system.
Overall, there is a feeling of hopelessness and abandonment amongst many of KZN’s elderly citizens, with some even stating that they would rather die that live the miserable lives they have. This is a devastating admission and it is clear that more must be done to help them.
The DA concerns regarding the bill are as follows;
– The ongoing budget cuts to KZN’s Department of Social Development (DSD), which are having a negative effect on the poor and vulnerable. Cutting DSD’s budget adversely affects the assistance that the department gives to NPOs and NGOs and also affects social programmes which empower KZN’s senior citizens
– The defunding, late or non-payment of subsidies to NPOs and NGOs also negatively affects services to the most vulnerable in society. This renders NGOs and NPOs at a disadvantage preventing them from delivering the comprehensive support and care services required by KZN’s senior citizens and;
– The ongoing failure by SASSA to administer grant payments – largely as a result of its transition from the gold card to the black card – leaving beneficiaries stranded.
These issues are adversely affecting the elderly and causing them unnecessary stress and resultant illnesses.
More needs to be done to protect our elderly citizens. Government needs to ensure that an adequate budget is provided for services they require while SASSA needs a dedicated team to ensure that they are treated with dignity and respect.