Cape Town – This weekend, residents of the Cape Winelands District voiced their opinions on the Older Persons Amendment Bill during a series of public hearings. The Committee on Social Development, which began its Western Cape public hearings on Friday in Saldanha Bay, moved to Paarl Town Hall on Saturday.

According to Parliament of South Africa, the hearings are focused on gathering senior citizens’ and public members’ insights on improving the Older Persons Act of 2006.

Acting committee chair, Mr. Dikgang Stock, highlighted that the bill aims to amend parts of the Older Persons Act that compromise the safety, health care, and protection of older persons. These amendments intend to strengthen abuse prevention, eliminate harmful practices like witchcraft accusations, and facilitate the transfer of knowledge and wisdom across generations. Importantly, the bill also includes provisions for removing older persons to temporary safe care without court orders.

Residents repeatedly raised the issue of scarce old age homes, especially for those reliant on government grants. This concern was echoed in both Saldanha Bay and Paarl hearings. Participants from Mbekweni Township in Paarl emphasized the difficulty in accessing critical services due to distance and mobility issues. They suggested the Department of Social Development compile a door-to-door database to better understand and address their needs.

The necessity of such a database was further highlighted by Ms. Christine Victor’s account of a wheelchair-bound grandmother whose pension was misused by her grandson. Despite reporting to a social worker and the police, the issue remains unresolved, underscoring the lack of responsive mechanisms to track and address the grievances of older persons.

Ms. Karen Borochowitz, founder of Dementia South Africa, supported the bill but stressed the need for an up-to-date database in each district municipality. She also pointed out the bill’s lack of clarity on what constitutes statutory abuse of older persons and the absence of consequence management for such transgressions.

Mr. Lucas Klaas from Lingelihle Old Age Home in Ashton proposed that the bill should specify criteria for governance structures in older persons’ institutions, noting that abuse often stems from governance boards, not caregivers. He also called for the bill to address the eviction of older persons living on farms, a social injustice that requires an intergovernmental response.

The public hearings are part of the Committee’s efforts to ensure that the amendments to the Older Persons Act reflect the real needs and concerns of the elderly population in the Cape Winelands District and beyond.