On Friday, June 17, the Gauteng Department of Social Development hosted a march against elderly abuse in Kagiso.

According to Mokgadi Mokgothu, Social Work Manager in the region, the purpose of the march was “… to spread the message to the community that older persons have rights and those rights need to be respected. Elderly people have the right to be heard when raising concerns in their families and society.

There are young mothers who dump children with grannies and go out to gallivant. Older persons are being deprived of their pension grants by their children and grandchildren. Today we are going to march to demonstrate that as government and stakeholders we are against any form of abuse against our senior citizens,” Mokgothu said.

The 69-year-old Annah Mavimbela said, “I am happy that the department is taking care of us. They always educate society on how to take care of us. Gauteng Social Development is everything to us as older persons, and they indeed look after our well-being. They ensure we come together to socialise and participate in various activities – and we do not even pay a cent. We will forever be grateful because they are the government that always cares for its people.”

According to a statement that was released by the Department after the march, “Elder abuse is a global social issue that affects the health and human rights of millions of older persons around the world, and is an issue that deserves the attention of the international community.

Older persons become vulnerable to abuse because their physical strength deteriorates over the years, which makes them unable to defend themselves. They depend more on caregivers and other family members for protection.

“Nationally there have been initiatives to acknowledge the rights of older persons through the promulgation of the Older Persons Act 13 of 2006 which emphasises the rights and protection of older persons. The department developed an Anti-Elder Abuse Strategy which is currently being reviewed to ensure intensification of prevention and protection programmes for older persons and coordinated action across other sectors.”

Participants marched from Kagiso Taxi Rank to Kagiso 20 Prototype.