THE elderly people in Mpumalanga complain about a lack of old age homes in the province.
This was revealed during Parliament's public hearing on the Older Persons Amendment Bill on Friday 25 August in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.
The lack of old age homes was the predominant concern, especially in rural areas, including the cost of staying in the few facilities available, as they are private.
The consultation was conducted by the Portfolio Committee on Social Development. The senior citizens who filled the Msogwaba Community Hall said they supported the Bill and hoped it would help address the shortage of old age homes in the province.
Committee spokesman Sakhile Mokoena said they had heard that most government-funded old age centres only provided day services and did not have sleeping facilities. If families wanted to have their elderly admitted, they would have to travel to distant towns or even to other provinces.
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He also said that the South African Social Security Agency's old-age grant is not enough to pay for a stay in private facilities and called on the government to intervene.
"The committee also heard that there are few facilities built by the apartheid government before 1994, resulting in longer waiting times before admission."
"Senior citizens from the four municipalities in Ehlanzeni district, namely Nkomazi, Mbombela, Bushbuckridge and Thaba Chweu, said they felt neglected compared to their peers in other provinces," he said.
Mokoena said they will hold another public hearing in Gert Sibande District Municipality at the Mayor’s Palour in Ermelo on Saturday 26 August.
"The committee is holding a nationwide public consultation process to seek the views of citizens on the bill that seeks to improve the protection and care of older people"
"The bill aims to strengthen the protection and prevention of elder abuse, eliminate harmful traditional practises including witchcraft accusations against the elderly and recognise the responsibility of the elderly in passing on knowledge and wisdom between generations," he said.
He added that the bill also seeks to make provision for the removal of older people to temporary safe care without a court order.
