MEC, police engage with elderly on GBV

Mamelodi senior citizens have been advised not to hesitate to go to their local police stations to report abuse when necessary.

MEC for community safety, Faith Mazibuko passed this important message while engaging with senior citizens and senior citizens clubs around Mamelodi on gender-based violence on Tuesday.

Mazibuko was joined by members of the Mamelodi West police station, local leadership, CPF members and GBV brigade in the local community hall.

The MEC said the aim of engaging with senior citizens on GBV was to educate them about the various types of abuse including physical emotional, sexual and financial, among others.

Mazibuko said a lot of abuse happens at homes for the elderly so they should not hesitate to report these instances, even if it is their grandchildren abusing them.

She said the problem however was that when senior citizens open a case at the weekend, they are back in the station on Monday morning to withdraw it, feeling sorry for their grandchildren.

“In most cases they will say they wanted to scare them a little bit, but the government is concerned about these cases so we advise they see them through with the support of the social workers at the magistrate’s courts,” she said.

ECONOMIC AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE WITH THE ELDERLY PEOPLE

Mazibuko introduced GBV brigades and crime prevention wardens who have been deployed in wards throughout Gauteng as part of the decisive steps to make the province safer for everyone.

Mazibuko also addressed economic and emotional abuse with the elderly people.

She added that calling people (man or woman) names, denying your partner in the house food are also abuse and victims have a right to report such behaviour to the police.

Acting Mamelodi West station commander Colonel Simon Matome Makgopa warned the senior citizens against giving out the PIN to their bank or Sassa cards to an untrusted person.

He also cautioned them against withdrawing cases and protection orders because the police are there to protect them.

“The issue of withdrawing cases lets us down because the very same person will commit the same crime again,” said Makgopa.

He advised the elderly to open the cases, especially against their grandchildren and ask the court for the social workers to help them take the case forward.

Mazibuko encouraged the elderly to report abuse and not be afraid to break the silence on domestic violence and sexual offences.

She said the senior citizens were given pamphlets with all information they might need about GBV, including how to report incidents anonymously and reporting on the behalf of a victim who is afraid to do so themselves.

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