RECENT security breaches at Tafta homes have raised the alarm for the organisation which is appealing for help in strengthening safety measures at their elderly residences across eThekwini.

Tafta CEO Femada Shamam said the NPO had already made significant investments in safety infrastructure but could not ignore the growing challenges posed by evolving criminal tactics. “This year alone, we have allocated almost R5m to maintaining security across our facilities. However, an increase in incidents of crime highlight that there are always unexpected and additional needs that fall outside of our planned budgets,” said Shamam.

She said a majority of Tafta’s residents are women over the age of 60. While Tafta has invested significantly in security measures, Shamam said the evolving nature of crime means that systems require continuous upgrading – “often at short notice and at costs the organisation cannot absorb without external help”.

Also Read: ‘Elder abuse is not just a personal tragedy; it is a societal failure’ – Tafta

“Safety and security is, and will always remain, a priority for Tafta,” said Shamam. “As a non-profit, we cannot expect our residents – most of whom live on small, fixed pensions – to bear these costs.

“We therefore appeal to the wider community, corporates, and philanthropic partners to join us in closing the gap by helping us provide a safe and welcoming environment for elders to live with dignity and peace of mind.”

Members of the public who wish to support Tafta’s security campaign can visit their website at www.tafta.org.za or contact the organisation on 031 332 3721 or email info@tafta.org.za

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