The Public Hearing was held in Bloemfontein on 9 March. It marked the launch of the provincial visits by the Committee. The Hearing was attended by 600 people and was officially opened by the MEC for Welfare, Ms A. Buthelezi-Phori. There were desks to address pension problems and complaints about Home Affairs and IDs. After the opening some Committee members remained at the Public Hearings to listen to public submissions, and others sat in private rooms for people who wanted confidentiality.
In public speakers spoke of the problems they had with local councils, civil servants and the government. In private they told stories of abuse and ill treatment by their children, relatives and care-givers.
The following issues were raised:
Financial Abuse:
- Many pensioners reported that their pensions had been stopped and said they did not understand the new cards introduced to rid the system of ghost pensioners. They were given no reasons for the delay in issuing cards and restoring their pensions. Some had waited over 9 months. “There is a place where the shops dump the remains of dead chickens. If you go there you find old people picking (them) up to get something to eat”, Jacob Makae of Botshabelo, Chair of a Committee for the Aged.
- There were complaints about family members who took pensioners money without their consent though the pensioners claimed they spent most of the money on the rent and maintaining their families.
Psychological Abuse:
Cases were reported of family members who either intentionally or due to the stress of care-giving, intimidated and humiliated older persons
Physical Abuse:
- Physical abuse seemed to be more common in homes where the elderly person was frail and bed-ridden. Two cases were reported of a nephew and grandchild abusing and neglecting an elderly person, apparently because she had tried to evict them.
- In one instance, an elderly person’s house was burned down twice because of her involvement in politics. She lost everything on both occasions and this was then followed by a spate of burglaries and warnings to withdraw from politics. The SAPS never reported back to her on their investigations.
- A case was reported of an 85 year old woman raped by her grandson after she refused to hand over her pension money - he took it from her afterwards.
- A case of an 83 year old man whose family moved into his RDP house and kept him locked in a back room. A month later he was admitted to Pelonomi Hospital where he died.
Systemic abuse:
- Many complaints were leveled against professionals who were either inefficient or refused to assist when called upon. In Bultfontein doctors refuse to examine patients.
- Officials were rude. One white woman was notorious for telling older persons to “Go and ask assistance from your black government!”, or “Go and ask Mandela!”.
- Grants are suspended without warning or explanation. When restored arrears are not paid.
- Two older persons could not be buried on time because officials at the local council insisted that their electricity and water accounts had to be settled before they could be given a grave number. This has frightened many, especially those who do not have a supportive family.
- Almost all the elderly complained about very high electricity and water bills and about disconnections. In Virginia old peoples water is being cut off, even after they have paid. Then they have to pay to have the water reconnected.
- Three seniors reportedly died after being trapped in their burning shacks. The problems of shack-dwellers are aggravated when they become frail, bed-ridden or incontinent. The bucket toilet system is a hazard and they struggle to use it without assistance.
- Many officials refused to make public amenities available to the elderly: they struggled to find venues for their social clubs. In Senegal the municipality promised to provide accommodation for a meeting but failed to do so. There is a beautiful hall in Welkom but pensioners are paid outside it.
Official Response:
Officials of the Department of Social Welfare in the Mangaung admitted that the farms and rural areas of the Free State have not been mapped out and that farm workers must rely on their employers to bring them to town every month to collect their pensions. High rates of illiteracy among the elderly add to the problem. In Brandfort one social worker caters for 28,000 people. She speaks no African language and the farm dwellers speak neither English nor Afrikaans. She was not aware that water and electricity services to elderly people were being cut.
2.1 Boiketlong Old Age Home, Thaba Nchu
This institution caters mostly for people who are destitute. The building was undergoing renovation and the residents had temporarily all been placed in one dormitory-type building. This home was built by the NG Sending Church in Africa and was used by the Bophuthatswana homeland.
There were 26 residents, one of whom was in hospital after allegedly being assaulted by staff. We were informed that investigations into several cases of abuse were pending. Random discussions revealed the following:
- Residents were physically neglected.
- One resident had a fractured hip and had been admitted to hospital - staff said they did not know how this had happened but his wife, also a resident, said he told her he was assaulted.
- Residents would not speak in front of the staff so Committee members met them privately though even then they were afraid to talk.
- Lunch was supposed to be served at 12h30 but was not served until after 14h00 - because the beef was not “good enough” and took long to cook. The food looked terrible and was insufficient for the number of residents . The utensils were unsatisfactory. Residents refused to eat liver or minced meat, maintaining that it was always rotten.
- Residents complained that they were starving. The Chief Director came to hear the com plaints and staff promised to serve better food.
- Residents complained that they could not attend their own churches because they had no money or transport.
- Residents said they were only taken to hospital when they became critical.
2.2 Botshabelo Old Age Home
This home is run by the Seventh Day Adventist Church. It was built from Development Aid funds. It looks beautiful. Some of the residents attended the Public Hearings and gave a confidential report. They asked Committee members to visit the home and “observe”.
Residents raised the following issues with Committee members:
- The area has water problems which affects the cleanliness of the place.
- The major complaint was that residents do not get their petty cash or pocket money after the charges for board and lodging have been deducted from their pensions. Proper records are not kept. The Pastor of the SDA who is also the Administrator agreed that this was irregular.
- One resident was badly in need of a wheelchair
- One resident was “seriously man-handled” and was not afraid to tell the Committee of this in front of the Pastor. He complained that the manager had broken his artificial leg when he dragged him to his office to assault him.
- Residents complained that they were locked in and could not go to the shops to buy a drink or cigarettes.
- Although they are allowed to attend their own church and not forced to attend the SAD, residents could not watch television on Saturdays.
- Residents lose their money and valuables and suspect that the staff is stealing from them
- The toilets are not kept clean
- Residents clothes are mixed up in the laundry leading to fights and allegations of theft.
- The kitchen and store looked clean and the food looked good but residents complained that they did not get the same food as the staff.
2.3 Mooi Hawe Old Age Home, Bloemfontein
Committee members met with the President of the Oranje Vroue Vereeniging, Mrs Potgieter. The Home had 148 residents and 22 vacancies. All residents were classified as frail. We were told that twelve residents had died the previous month. In 27 years there had not been a single case of abuse by outsiders or insiders: bruises resulted from falls. In this event all staff on duty were interviewed. Residents may claim that staff had caused the bruise but they picked them up from the floor. There was one case of a dead woman who was found to have a cut on her head but it was decided that this had happened at the funeral undertakers, Avbob. . Residents with Alzheimers disease had to be restrained and this did cause bruising. They also have to separate residents who fight.
There were six black residents of whom four were young. Four others had died. Eight came to Mooi Hawe from Odendaalsrus and 2 from Alan Ridge. There were no black members of the Board but there were two possible candidates. We were told it was difficult to find people who had the time and qualifications. In discussions with the Welfare Department it emerged that Mooi Hawe got a life time top-up grant to take black residents from a home which was closing. Other white homes had refused.
Staffing consists of 48 nurse-aids and 19 nursing sisters. Nurse aids used to be trained by Mrs Potgieter and get a certificate from the Nursing Council, but she can no longer do this. Now they have to accept a poorer quality nurse and they only receive a little in-service training. They recognize they have to improve their training and supervision. There is no protocol but qualified nurses are always on the look-out for abuse. The home receives subsidies of R1185 for 142 places. Thirty residents pay fees ranging from R1941 to R2067.
The per capita cost is R1773 excluding VAT. 60% of this is staff salaries.
There is no outreach programme.
2.4 Boikhutso Old Age Home, Mangaung
This home was established in 1960 with revenue from beer halls for about 50 disabled and older persons. Then it became a Transit Camp for homeless people. When this closed in 1984 the community rallied and formed the Mangaung Society for the Aged which was registered in 1986 and received a low-interest loan of R2.8 million from the Housing Department to rebuild the home (it was one of the few black organizations to benefit from this scheme). It did not repay the loan - after prolonged negotiations with the Housing Department it was finally written off.
Presently there are 76 residents. Assessment is done prior to admission and families are encouraged to keep in touch. Subsidies are paid according to the following scale:
- Group 1 (independent) - R300
- Group 2 (semi-independent) - R875
- Group 3 ( dependent) - R1185
They have started to address abuse and neglect in the community but, while luncheon clubs are subsidized there are no subsidies for the community based services: “We are told to develop services but we get no support”. Applications for poverty funds have been rejected.
The home offers the following services:
- a day care center,
- ten luncheon clubs for non-residents ,
- a frail care unit for 48
- a meals on wheels service,
- a home care programme ,
- a laundry service
- a lending depot for wheel chairs and other aids
This is the only organization for the aged in Mangaung. Many cases of abuse in the community are reported to them - but they are not followed up by the police. The Society helps people get their pensions and retrieves IDs from loan sharks. They are concerned that the Government does not use them to communicate information about pensions to the community such as re-registration, increases in pensions etc.
“I have been forgotten. All old people have been forgotten. We are the most neglected people.” Lebogang Kgaye.
In Gauteng a great deal of abuse takes place within the family and older persons seem to be the target for much of this. Services are not adequate to cater for their needs. Social workers lack capacity and training for this. The NGO sector does not appear to be well organised or coordinated or able to make a difference. It is not clear why organisations for the elderly do not work together. Health care services are also problematic. But the biggest issue for the elderly is unaffordable rates and taxes. The Indigent Policy is not being applied and is possibly too complicated.
Shortly after the Committee was established a group of pensioners from Katlehong traveled to Pretoria to meet them and present their concerns which were as follows:
- Unable to afford rent, arrears and service charges - plea to write off arrears
- Grand-children are robbing pensioners of their houses and putting them in the back yard
- When the husband dies the house is not allocated to the widow who has to find accommodation elsewhere
- CPS should tighten security at pay points
307 persons attended the hearings which were also attended by the Mayor and the MEC for Welfare Services. 56 complaints were reported to the Help Desks.
Representatives of the following organizations were present:
Ga Rankuwa Hospital, Metheo ya Sechaba, Lodewyk Spies Old Age Home, Partners in Word, Pretoria Academic Hospital, Pretoria Council for the Aged, Andries Snyman Rusoord vir Bejaardes, Monument Diensentrum, Daveyton Old Age Home, Daveyton Zenzele, Sanco, Hlangani Club, Mabopane, Benoni Welfare, Eersterus Community Services, Golden Citizens Club, Mamelodi Care of the Aged, Mamelodi Senior Citizens Association, Mamelodi Old Age Home, Kwathema, Springs, Kwathema Care of the Aged, CCP Old Age Home, Jolly Group, Tsakane Care of the Aged.
The following issues were raised:
Community Issues
- Older persons are experiencing a decline in respect by family, the church and specifically the youth.
- Several old people complained about aggressive grandchildren. One said the child grant was leading to more illegitimate children. Too much attention given to the rights of children when what they needed was discipline.
- Family violence and crime is high and older people are the targets of abuse. They are seen as the “dumping ground” for children, the unemployed and the disabled . Consequently they have become prime targets for violent behavior - assaults, robbery, rape etc. Those close to older persons seem to be the main abusers. The welfare system is unable to respond effectively to this.
- The payment of rates and taxes in respect of electricity, water, rent etc. is beyond means of social pensioners. Many complained that their water and electricity had been cut. Local authority officials were not helpful.
- Older persons do not know where to turn with their problems. They do not trust social workers as they may divulge information to perpetrators. In addition, social workers do not know what to do as there are no places where abused older persons can be kept safely.
- A group of 150-200 pensioners from Soshanguve meet in the Phuthanong Police Station where they do sewing, handcrafts and baking. They have not had any financial support since 1996. There have been no replies to their applications to the local council for land, a work place and a home. Clubs servicing older persons are not subsidised and there fore cannot develop.
- The elderly are carrying the problem of growing unemployment. Numerous pensioners were looking after grown up children and grandchildren who were out of work and without income.
Health care:
- Persons from the East Rand, especially Daveyton, complained about the hospitals. - Far East Hospital, Boksburg Hospital and Vosloorus. They are sent from pillar to post, medicines are inadequate and they are forced to pay R13.00 for each service.
- Community services are few: there was a strong plea for mobile clinics.
Housing
- Complaints relating to housing at this Hearing centered on Thokoza. One man reported that his house had not been repaired since the violence and people were still buried there.
- An elderly lady from Thokoza said they had been thrown out of their houses - when they returned the rent had risen. Now their electricity had been cut. She appealed to the government to reduce the rent and electricity charges.
- An elderly woman in Thokoza had inherited a subsidized house when her husband died in 1996. The council was demanding repayment of outstanding debts. This woman was completely in the dark about what was being demanded or why.
- Another Thokoza resident whose house was burned down during the conflict complained that it had not been properly reconstructed.
- Material for people to rebuild their own houses in Thokoza was donated by the Urban Foundation. Now people were told it was a loan which they had to repay at R11 a month or they would be evicted.
- Three people reported their houses had been poorly constructed and were leaking.
- An elderly man applied for an RDP house in 1994 - he was not considered. Local authorities are not treating the elderly fairly.
Pensions:
- The problems at pension pay-points were fewer in Gauteng although there were complaints about long queues, lack of security, exploitation by hawkers and lack of seating, shelter, and toilets.
- Social grants are not seen as the right of older persons. ( Family members demand a portion of the grant.)
- An elderly lady who had been drawing her pension through the Peoples Bank was unable to draw money from the cash point. After getting no help from the bank or the Welfare Department she had go back and queue at the pay point.
- Jane Nyembe (ID supplied) of Brakpan was too sickly to attend the Hearings. Her pension had been stopped.
- “Looking after 7 grandchildren . Not coping financially.” Stated one referral.
- 200 grants were cancelled at Germiston office because beneficiaries had not re-registered. But beneficiaries are not given the necessary information on how to re-register. For example, people with a bank account are told they do not need to re-apply as they have got money (Volunteer from Vosloorus).
- Andries Snyman Tehuis :An elderly man complained that he was paying R500 but the care is not satisfactory: too little food, no transport, limited medication. He asked for the home to be investigated.
- Eersterus Retirement Home: Run by the NG Kerk, this home was visited by Committee members following a report of a death in the home due to alleged abuse. Several residents were suffering from bed sores and bruises but were reluctant to speak. There were many staff complaints against the management. Care-givers are black and residents and management white.
- Huis David Old Age Home: Allegations were made of neglect of a frail person who developed bed sores and failure to assist with feeding and to respond promptly to the bell. There was also an allegation of racism in the treatment of this resident and the small number of other black residents. A complaint was sent to the Human Rights Commission.
- Huis Tini Vorster: A resident complained that she had caught a staff member stealing from her locker. Other residents had had the same experience.
- JAFFA Home , Muckleneuk, Pretoria: There was a complaint that an elderly person was refused admission on grounds of religion.
- Lodewyk Spies Old Age : A resident complained that he got received little of his old age pension, that the food was bad. Specialist health services were not available and the frail aged received insufficient care. Donations are made to the home but residents had to buy their own toilet paper.
- Rose Home, Daveyton : This is a Government-run home A volunteer complained that staff did as they liked and did not feed people adequately. or cook for diabetics .
- Sonnheim, Arcadia :The Committee was told that management had failed to keep promises to care for residents when they became frail and that they charged residents for things they did not get. A recent inspection had not got beyond the office.
- Daveyton Old Age Home: There was a report that Home smelled of urine and was generally dirty.
Over 600 persons attended these hearings, which were held in a church. The Deputy Major and the MEC for welfare Services also attended. There was a lively atmosphere at the hearings and people expressed high appreciation for the Minister’s initiative in appointing a Committee and for the presence of the MEC. 68 people give evidence and help desks worked well.
The following organizations were represented: Evaton West Development Forum, Vaal Seniors Club, Itsose Club Empilisweni, Vereeniging Youth Club, Bophelong Luncheon Club, Bazelibethu, West Rand Health Services, Baragrwnath Hospital, Bongani for the Aged, Kgotelopele Bophelong Project, Itsoseng Elderly Club, Mohlakeng Old Age, Avonrus Old Age Home. Soweto Civic Organisation, Senior Citizens of Soweto
Overall it appeared that the Vaal has been more neglected than other areas in Gauteng, has a high incidence of abuse in families and a high level of unemployment. The various social services are unable to respond to need. There is little funding or support of Clubs
A major concern is that local authorities and local councilors who are not responding to the needs of older persons. Masakhane is dead. Older persons with their meagre incomes were seen as a prime target for the collection of unaffordable rates. This resulted in extreme hardship.
Community Issues
Abuse:
- There is a high incidence of family violence.
- Four pensioners reported that their children were taking their pensions and chasing them out of their homes.
- A pensioner reported being abused by his younger brother who refused him entry to their home and assaulted him if he did not buy food.
- Grandparents reported being terrorized by a grandson when he was drunk. The police had intervened but their health was deteriorating because of this.
- A grandson threatened to burn the house and kill the pensioner. He stole the pension. The police did nothing.
- A pensioner gave his house to his daughter before he died. Now his widow is denied food and her pension is taken from her. She is seeking her own house.
- An elderly lady from Sharpeville has been accused of witchcraft for several years. Recently the youths threatened to kill her. The police have advised her to get legal assistance which she cannot afford. She lives in fear.
- The ability of the S A Police and Welfare Services to respond to cases of elder abuse and ill - treatment was questioned. Social workers did not know how to handle these cases. One social worker told the Committee that she has too many cases and older persons are not a priority.
Local Authority Services:
- All the people who attended the Hearing raised their hands to show that Masakhane is not servicing the old people. Many complained of the inconvenience and hardship caused by unaffordable rates and cuts in basic services. The Indigency Policy has not been applied, local officials did not try to find solutions and are rude, asking, for example, “Why don’t you sell your radio to pay the arrears?” or “Why do you have to care for your children?”
- A case was reported of a departmental official, Mr Oberholzer, who is running a business with subsidies for the Sharpeville Association for the Aged. There was also a report that Sharpeville Care of the Aged does not provide services. Lack of adequate housing was reported by at least 24 persons who say that older persons are excluded from RDP projects.
- Lack of adequate housing was reported by at least 24 elderly people who said they were excluded from RDP projects.
- A Bekkersdal pensioner reported that since he got his title deeds he had to pay double rent and rates, though he had been promised that these charges would decrease. There was no proper water supply.
- A List of 17 luncheon clubs in the area was presented to the Committee. None of them received a subsidy. The lists have been forwarded to the Department of Welfare in Gauteng for attention.
- Eleven other clubs submitted a petition that they do not receive subsidies, although they have been in existence between 5 and 14 years. The club leaders have no contact with the Department and have been told that it has no funds.
- A few doubtful schemes have been reported in the Palestine area where aged people paid fees for services they did not get.
- Social work services are inaccessible. There was a plea for more services and for an office in Zone 3 , Evaton.
Pensions
- Several cases were reported of social grants being suspended without apparent reason.
- People were unable to obtain correct Identification Documents from Home Affairs .
- The Departmental toll - free line did not resolve any problems.
- Several reports were received that Social Security officials were rude and abusive particularly at the Sebokeng office.
- Reports were received of problematic conditions at pension pay-points- long queues, dirty conditions (Sebokeng), people charged fees for queuing and for chairs, hawkers intimidating people, poor security and liquor being sold at pay-points.
Health
- No health services in Evaton West. People are regularly turned away from the Osizweni clinic and referred to other clinics where they wait all day before being sent home. Poor ambulance services in Burgersdal area.
- The clinic at Soshanguve was unable to handle all cases. Children were attended to first and the old were sent home. Special days for pensioners were requested.
- Complaints about Khutsong Hospital, Carltonville included allegations of ill-treatment by white nursing staff and critical patients being denied help with feeding and washing.
- A chronic hypertensive woman had nothing to eat before taking medication so her condition was deteriorating.
- A blind man could not afford to go to hospital for removal of cataracts.
- A terminally ill patient was discharged from hospital and her death was accelerated because there was no food at her home
- An elderly man was unable to get to Johannesburg General Hospital to replace his artificial leg.
- Orange Farm Home for the Aged: A report was received by the Committee on conditions at a home . 14 elderly people are housed in containers. All the carers are volunteers. They take 50% of the pension and the rest goes towards a funeral scheme. The residents are transported to pay-points in a wheelbarrow and a wheelchair. The place is a health hazard and they survive on hand-outs from local business and churches. The report was forwarded to the MEC for action.
- Avondrus Old Age Home A resident complained that he only received R70 from his pension but his medication for hypertension cost him R80 a month.
353 persons together with the Mayor of The Greater Johannesburg and the MEC attended the Hearing at Baragwanath Hospital. The high level of family violence was highlighted and the declining respect for older persons. Other issues raised were the unaffordability of rates and taxes, disinterested local councilors, and health and welfare services are unable to respond to the need.
Community issues
- The Committee was told that older persons live in a constant state of shock because of the pressure by families for a share of their pension and the abuse and ill - treatment they experience at the hands of those close to them. Cases were reported of beatings, theft of money, rape and evictions and of elderly people being forced to sleep in outside toilets.
- Related to this was the inability or unwillingness of the police and courts to address the issue - several elderly people had reported the abuse but court orders were not implemented.
- The payment of rates was the key area of concern. One after the other persons told the Committee that the fees are very high and that many people go with out electricity. People seemed to be aware of the Indigency Policy but it has not been explained or implemented. The Bokamoso Aged Club in Dube wrote to the Parliamentary Welfare Portfolio Committee in May 2000 complaining that they received threatening letters every month: “The more we pay the more we seem to be owing”. The letter was signed by 30 members. Eva Khoai had arrears of R10,000. The Council expected her to pay R550 a month (from a pension of R540!)
- Committee members met with elderly blind people at a food-parcel collection point. They complained that social workers did not help them to fill out forms and did not visit them and they had no transport to reach pay points. There they were cheated. They asked to be assisted to get land and decent houses.
- Senior Citizens of Soweto wrote that since 1994 they had been trying to hold talks with Eskom. They had promised a flat rate for pensioners but nothing happened. In 1996 Soweto senior citizens got together and agreed to pay R25 to Escom but Eskom had still not responded. Now they were boycotting Eskom and appealing to the Government to help.
- The general feeling was that the Government at local level has failed the aged. Town Councilors are inaccessible and actually exploit the elderly.
Health
- A 64 year old woman from Mfolo North complained that nurses refused to help patients by feeding and bathing them when they were weak. She also complained that she had to pay for three different doctors - an exemption from hospital fees was requested.
- There were reports of lack of respect and abusive behavior of nurses at the Baragwanath hospital.
Housing
- Several people had problems with the transfer of Council houses, claiming Ward Councilors had promised to do this when their rental arrears were settled but they had still not received their title deeds.
- Two pensioners from Naledi claimed they had been evicted from their houses by a Councilor and forced to move into a shack. Another pensioner mentioned a scam in which Ward Councilors were trading in houses.
- Soweto Civic Organisation requested the Committee to help older people with their bonds.
Pensions:
- Again there were the issues of long queues at pay- points and the lack of basic facilities.
- Volunteers at the Rabasotho hall pay - point were abusive.
- Mrs Dlamini from Vosloorus took a list of ±200 persons whose pensions were cancelled to the Department but got no help.
- A social worker reported that cases of abuse couldn’t be adequately investigated due to the lack of staff and inadequate facilities for example places of safety.
- There was a complaint that beneficiaries of the Child Support Grant were rowdy and abused the elderly at pay points.
- Two pensioners complained about the means test which was suddenly implemented two years ago. Both acknowledged having civil service pensions but have felt the effects of this sudden loss of income.
- Two committee members visited Zola and Meadowlands pay points. One machine had broken down: the CPS officials said this was unusual but volunteers disagreed. The pay-points were crowded , toilet facilities were inadequate and filthy and there were a large number of hawkers pestering pensioners.
- Soweto Home for the Aged : It was reported that the home is not functioning well due to Management problems. People did not trust the home. This was confirmed by the social worker.
- Huis Tini Vorster: it was reported that theft was the general order of the day.
An additional hearing was held at Daveyton on 18 August at the request of a social worker who attended the public hearings at Eersterus. Two members of the Committee attended and found a hall packed with older residents.
Three-quarters of the reports and complaints concerned local services and high arrears bills for water and electricity . People knew nothing about an Indigency Policy and blamed local councilors for the lack of information. Social workers were accused of not following up on cases of hardship reported to them. Many old people had had summons issued against them for bad debts. The other important issue was the cancellation of pensions and, when re-instated, non-payment of arrears.
Local government officials agreed to address pensioners the following week on the Indigency policy. The Gauteng Department of Welfare agreed to call a meeting with social workers to address their indifference and invisibility.
The Province should conduct an internal audit of welfare and health services in respect of older persons. This will enable it to develop an effective management system. It should give attention to the following problems:
- The need for better planning and coordination between key role-players.
- The funding of CBO’s (Club’s).
- Management training for officials and staff of NGO’s.
- Intensification of public awareness campaigns e.g.. Operation Dignity.
- The feasibility of clinics supplying vitamin-added mealie meal or PVM to chronically ill patients.
- The scrapping of pensioners service charge arrears.
- The establishment of a special unit in the Department to deal with abuse of the elderly.
- The scrapping of bank charges to pensioners.
“We are the mothers of the nation. They are President and Ministers because of us, yet we are treated so badly” Mildred Dlamini, Pensioners’ Committee member
The Hearing was opened by the MEC for Welfare who compared the Committee to sniffer dogs finding out what was wrong. “We have built many offices but it saddens me that in some people are not respected, no matter how much I plead with staff members.” He appealed to the audience to report to him so that he can act against staff who are not treating them properly.
The Hearing was attended by 623 people . The breakdown was as follows:
Mahlabatini 73 Nkandla 24 Monmouth 39 Ngoye 83 Babanango 49 Mondlo 26 Nongoma 33 Mseleni 12 Ulundi 10 Obombo 11 Vryheid 12 Eshowe 35 Hlabisa 33 Matubatuba 16 Smaller numbers came from 71 villages whose location is unclear
There were 106 submissions, 65 of them were in Zulu
Isikhalo/ Complaints
- Lists were handed in totaling 308 canceled disability grants and 99 pensions canceled without warning.
- There is a problem with procurators/proxys not being accepted - frail old people have to be carried to pay points. A list of the IDs of ten frail elderly and their ten proxies was handed in. However, on the other hand there were reports of proxies who did not hand over the pensions.
- There were three complaints that pensioner committees demand R2 from pensioners .
- There were complaints about the long distances pensioners had to travel to pay points , the location of pay-points, the cost of transport and the lack of shelter and toilets.
- There were reports of armed hold-ups at pension points and failure of the police to respond. There were five complaints of inaction by the police (who pleaded lack of transport).
- There are suspicions about CPS , a report that they do not pay pensioners their full entitlement and allegations of manhandling and their late arrival at pay-points.
- There were two complaints about Cornerstone Funeral Plan (for which premiums are deducted directly from pensions by CPS). One accused an official of using his own thumb print, presumably on an application form and the other accused the company of refusing to pay for a burial.
Proposals made to the Committee
- Shelter, food, seating and first-aid or mobile clinics should be provided at pay-points
- More pay-points should be provided so the distance pensioners have to travel is reduced and queues are shorter.
- Child Support Grant should be payable to the age of 18
- Security at pay-points would deter thugs and hawkers who prey on pensioners
A Committee member and a photographer visited the home without notice, the only one in the Ulundi District. Both the Superintendent and the social worker were off duty. There were 69 residents, mostly elderly, and 70 staff (a record staffing ratio?). It includes groundsmen, security, kitchen staff and a mortuary attendant. Of the care staff there are 2 staff nurses, 2 nursing assistants (who have completed courses) and many “ward aids” who are untrained. Currently the home is not full but numbers fluctuate and there is no overall decline. Referrals come from social workers.
The home was established by the Dutch Reformed Church in the 1970s. Initially the home was overcrowded, with people sleeping in the corridors. Currently, the physically frail occupy wards in the main block, separate for men and women. The wards are open plan with 5-6 beds in each of the four corners of the room and a dining area in the middle, with bathrooms , toilets and a sluice room leading off the dining area. There are no doors. Cupboards in each corner are shared by the occupants of the beds. There were no locks. Neither bathrooms nor bedrooms were particularly clean but the floors were very shiny. A builder was repairing the sluice-room.
Besides the wards in the main block there are 70 tiny tin-roofed rooms for the physically able - with shared toilet and ablution blocks, only one of which was operational. Both rooms and toilet blocks looked run-down. Many are occupied by staff.
A few beds in the wards were occupied by bed-ridden people, some young. Most residents were sitting or lying in the sun outside. A group of men were working on fruit-bowls made from ice-cream sticks glued together and then varnished. They seemed cheerful and few complaints. One complaint was from a man who gardens and said the fences were broken and the cattle eat his vegetables. He was also trying to get a one-handed wheel-chair since having a stroke in December. Pensions are cancelled when residents are admitted and they get R2 a month pocket-money , paid three monthly.
Food is outsourced to Mandate Meal Management in Durban. Lunch was about to be served and looked appetizing. We were told by residents that they like the food and get meat every day. Generally residents looked shabby but not unhappy. Many could not speak English. Nkandla Hospital is 7 km away. A doctor visits weekly.
The Manager, Mrs Samuels phoned the Committee member the next day. Her main problem seems to be that staff are occupying most of the little houses and she has asked the Department to separate them from the elderly but nothing has happened. She is unhappy with the building and the open wards and is trying to put up curtains.
“If we don’t stand on mountains how will you hear our cry?”
Mayor of Durban South Central Theresa Mthembu’s speech, read by Councilor Moodeley, called for strengthening of community structures to help older people cope better, for facilities to be opened to senior citizens groups and for a dynamic support system. She also called for more attention to be given to conditions at pension pay-points, at clinics and hospitals, where old people also had to queue for long periods, and for Home Affairs to give special attention to the problems elderly people had with birth dates and IDs. The old tradition of women being perpetual minors was still a problem for older women who lost their homes after the death of their husbands.
The hearing was attended by 367 people . 45 oral submissions were presented .
Written submissions were received from the following:
Department of Social Welfare, Province of KwaZulu-Natal
Health Services, Province of KwaZulu-Natal
South Local Council Forum for the Elderly
Durban Association of the Aged (DAFTA)
Aryan Benevolent Home Council
Northcroft Senior Citizen
The Black Sash
Umlazi Christian Care Society
Bill Buchanan Association for the Aged
Babithuba Women’s Project
KZN Association for Older Persons
South Local Council for the Elderly
Bahle Help the Aged Care
Kwamashu Christian Care Society
Osizweni Kwamashu Senior Citizens Club
Reports from Sunset Lodge Frail Care Home
Beth Shalom old age home
The Association for the Aged (TAFDA)
Verulum Day Care and Frail Care Centres
Umlazi Welfare SocietyThe following problems were highlighted:
Residential Care
- There are disparities in conditions at white, coloured and Indian facilities and African homes because apartheid government only provided funding for the erection of the former.
- Ongoing differences in the funding of African homes - based on unit cost - lead to inferior staffing with fewer sisters and qualified care-assistants
- Inadequate and inefficient staff, no training programmes and low staff morale
- Too few trained staff and lack of discipline, supervision and structured controls.
- Inadequate record-keeping and documentation, guidelines etc.
- Inadequate controls on distribution and administration of drugs
- No activity programmes for residents
- Abuse by untrained and uncommitted volunteers
- The closure of category 1 homes which left destitute elderly without shelter
- An old age home built in Kwamakhuta in 1998 had not been opened
- Serious financial problems faced by old age homes face e.g. Zibambeleli, Claremont and
- Ekanana Old Age Home in Umlazi were unable to pay salaries in August 2000.
- There have been no prosecutions for elder abuse
- TAFDA, which runs 3 frail aged homes, reported that between July 1998 and April 1999 they monitored abuse in one home. Of the 84 residents affected 69 were women with an average age of 82 years. 44% of incidents were physical abuse, 32% psychological, 23% financial and 33% active neglect. 82% of perpetrators were care attendants, 11% cleaners, 5% staff nurses and 1% a professional nurse. There were no reports of sexual abuse . They found the abuse to be endemic. Although they installed cameras they were unable to change the staff and finally closed the home.
Proposals made to the Committee
- Staff counseling to help them to handle stress
- Staff training in identification and implications of abuse
- Staff monitoring by professionals
- Encouragement to residents, family and visitors to report concerns and complain.
- Selection of staff who are people-centred as well as professionally trained.
- Setting up a register of nurse aids and care assistants so that when staff are dismissed for abusing residents they cannot find employment in similar settings.
- Government should subsidize salaries so trained staff can be employed
- Day care centres should be attached to homes
- Shelters were needed for destitute but not frail elderly
SOCIAL PENSIONS:
“They refused to pay me a pension. I am retired at home. The children did not go to school. I have got no water. The neighbours supply for me the water. The phone was closed down. I have got nothing.” ( A 66 year old pensioner at the Public Hearings)
- In July 2000 29,622 pensions were suspended - due to failure to re-register (Black Sash).
- Pension applications take 6 to 13 months to be processed. In the past it took 1-2 months.
- Transfers between districts take 4 months .
- Back-pay not received - sometimes for years. When arrears are received it is not the full amount - pay-out officials seem to take a cut.
- Cheques often incorrectly made out and cannot be cashed
- Pensions are cancelled without explanation, or pensioners told they have died. Lengthy delays before pensions are re-instated.
- Pension payments summarily discontinued after review with advice received months later
- Problems with outsourcing pension payments - CPS systems not linked to Department so CPS cannot inform pensioners of the status of their application
- CPS toll-free number not functioning
- No Department help-desks at pay points
- Fraud unit/investigation team is not accessible to pensioners
- Transport availability and cost: difficulties in getting to pay-points and frail old people having to be carried in wheel-barrows or old blankets.
- Transport problems, muggings, assault and robbery and experienced at the Durban office of the Social Welfare Department. An appeal was made in 1998 for the transfer of all pension dockets to the Chatsworth office - the proposal was unanimously agreed but the Department has dragged its feet on the issue. (DAFTA)
- Too few district offices to administer pensions and long queues there.
- Long queues at pension pay points , no protection from the weather or facilities , late arrival of CPS officials and severe congestion.
- Funds run out at pay-points, pensioners having to return twice of thrice
- Officials are rude, impatient and unwilling to assist. They demand payment for services. “Pensioners have to pay bribes at every point in the pension application system” (Black Sash). Bribery and other abuses in the queuing system
- Pension applicants not informed when provincial budget depleted for the financial year, but told to inquire the following month. This results in needless cost and suffering.
- Problems with Smart Cards - pensioners are rejected because of worn finger-prints, cards get lost.
- Social Relief grants not publicized or budgeted for and difficult to access .Deducted from the pension when it is restored.
- Abuse by procurators - some are family members and others money lenders
- Direct deductions by CPS on behalf of Cornerstone Funeral Society and allegations of intimidation by Cornerstone agents. (However, this system seems to deal with the problem of the final pension payment being withheld on death and the lengthy process of re-claiming this - a serious concern of pensioners in other provinces).
- The pensions of people who own houses valued at over R150,000 were stopped without notice, forcing many owners to gift their houses to their children - thus putting them at their mercy. “What has your home got to do with the grant. The government doesn’t own your home” (clapping).
- The amount of the pension should be increased by more than R20 a year - often the pension supports whole families and the ending of the State Maintenance Grant has caused suffering. No programmes were put in place as were promised.
- The Child Support Grant should be paid to the age of 18 - it is more important in the years 7-18 than under 7.
Proposals made to the Committee:
- Staff should be trained in how to treat pensioners and monitored.
- Trade Union members or provident funds should contribute a percentage of salaries or contributions so the government can increase pensions .
- Standards should be set for those to whom pension payments are out-sourced to assess their competency.
- The establishment of a Directorate of Elder Affairs or a Minister of Senior Affairs
- Pensioners should be given notice when pension is to be canceled
- Membership of a funeral society should not be linked to the administration of pensions.
- Temporary relief or food parcels should be provided (as happened from 1970-1973) where grants are awaited or have been suspended.
- Wheelchairs are needed for the frail elderly and younger physically challenged at pay-points
- Pensioners should not be paid on the same days as recipients of Child Support grants and Disability grants as they get pushed around.
- Men should also qualify for a pension at the age of 60.
HOME AFFAIRS AND IDs
- Home Affairs take more than a year to issue an ID , often requesting additional documentation.
- Pensioners cannot produce birth or marriage certificates and spouses death certificates - they do not remember the exact dates and the induna/inkosi who performed the wedding ceremony is dead.
- There is a problem incorrect birth dates on IDs and shared ID numbers.
Proposals made to the Committee
- Home Affairs should accept affidavits from reliable personages in place of the documents presently required.
- There should be more district Home Affairs offices
COMMUNITY CARE
- Pensioners living alone are raped and killed by thugs
- Old people have high arrears bills and are unable to pay their rates, water, electricity and phones so disconnections follow.
- How can pensioners living on Trust Land be expected to pay rates?.
- Widows are unable to afford lawyers fees for transfer of ownership of their late husbands’ houses.
- The Social Assistance Act Regulations of April 1998 suspended pensions of people with properties valued at over R180,000. This resulted in elderly people being forced to sell or gift their homes to their children in order to re-apply for a pension. Then they have to wait for five years before it is restored.
- Between April 1998 and March 1999 42 cases of abuse were reported to TAFDA social workers. 37 were women. 55% of cases were physical abuse 74% psychological 52% material, 24% active neglect and 10% sexual abuse. The major perpetrators were: Spouse 16%, son 33% Daughter 38%
- There is gross neglect of elderly people by their children in their homes but where should they report this ?
- Youth gangsters in some rural areas are raping children and elderly people. SAPS have done nothing although the culprits could be traced.
- Daycare projects for the elderly have failed because they cannot find venues and funding
- The AIDS epidemic is forcing many grand-parents to become parents again. There is a need for support in parenting skills including birth registration, school enrolment and discipline.
- Service centers in poor areas have been vandalized and forced to close because of the lack of security and police protection.
- The replacement of the Community Chest by the National Lottery left many welfare organizations stranded. Now interim arrangements have been made for those registered with the Community Chest to get grants from the Lottery but other , mainly black organizations, are excluded.
- Some of the housing built for the elderly is not being maintained: It was reported that 60 flats in Verulam is owned by the North Local Council have caretaker, the grounds are over grown, there is poor drainage , over-flowing sewage, malfunctioning toilets and geysers, damp and peeling paintwork
Proposals made to the Committee:
- The formation of an Elder Protection Unit
- Collaboration between Departments in keeping records of the aged
- Soup Kitchens and stoves , and refrigerators.
- More volunteers to visit, feed and wash the elderly and some form of payment.
- Sheets , disposable napkins and other home care products
- Sewing machines for those who are not frail and small shelters where they can be trained
- Transport to get the elderly to day centres
- Flat rates to pensioners for rates and services
- Housing and shelters for the elderly
HEALTH
- High hospital charges - essential operations are unaffordable.
- Local clinics are congested so elderly patients have to wait all day.
- No routine reviews of chronic medication.
- Some clinics unable to supply medicines (KwaMakhutha).
- In hospitals elderly people are made to wait long hours standing or lying on trolleys without food or assistance. At times they go home without medication.
- Increasing volumes of patients and decreasing quality of care in hospitals (Prince Mahiyeni, King Edward and Addington)
- Health districts do not coincide with local government districts.
- The geriatric clinic at Kwadabeka has closed and now the elderly must wait much longer with the general patients
Proposals made to the Committee
- Specialized units for the elderly in hospitals
- More hospital services to address the AIDS pandemic
- Better inter-sectoral coordination
- Pensioners should be exempted from health charges.
- There should be transport to and from hospitals.
This is the home where the Carte Blanche programme was filmed. It is owned by the Salvation Army. It was visited by Committee members and appears to have been transformed. Physically it has been refurbished and the new matron seems well-organised and enthusiastic. There were 52 residents (40 women) but it will shortly have 74 places. The cost is R2600 per month but 70% of residents pay only R440. 47 subsidies of R1215 are received from the province. Community churches visit - which is how the management got wind of the abuse. Now there are comment and incident boxes. The four floors of the home cater for different groups and have dedicated staff. Staff do experience racial abuse but “at 80 or 85 it is not our place to try and change their perceptions,” (Matron). Staff needed to be tolerant and to be able to take a break when abused. Previously they were more regimented. This compounded their frustration and irritation. Management held discussions with staff away from residents and if necessary staff are moved to a different level.
Transformation: Most of the staff are black - it is difficult to recruit white staff at the prevailing salaries, we were told. We saw only two black residents: a man and a woman. both of whom looked rather forlorn - the woman had become disorientated (and incontinent) since entering the home - her family seldom visited. We noted that the menu offered only “white” food.
Activities : There was little sign of activity among residents, many of whom admittedly were confused. But we were told that knitting, cards and reading were provided.
Outreach: The home has 13 home nursing assistants who give short term and long term help to AIDS and cancer patients.
Over 700 people attended the hearings. They came from Sobantu, Edendale, Howick, Greytown, New Hanover, Ixopo, Imbali, Elandspruit, Matumatolo, Kranskop, Bulwer, Nhlazatshe, Swayimane, Donnybrook, Mountain Rise, Kokstad, Mbumuza, Mpolweni, Matimatolo,, Slangspruit, Caliza, Richmond, Inchanga,
The Hearing was opened by the Deputy Mayor, Mr Chetty who welcomed the opportunity for people to participate - which had never happened before.
The Regional Director, Hyacinth Dubazane, then listed the problems the province was facing including wrong birth dates, confusion over reviews and the non-payment of arrears. The introduction of machines had caused some suspensions and the machines sometimes broke. Pensioners problems are not taken seriously : “People who can no longer plough or plant because of age are asked how they survived before the pension.”
When Cornerstone Funerals were introduced they promised toilets and shelters would be built at pay-points. Nothing had happened. People also allege they are enrolled in the scheme without their approval.
Written submissions were received from the Community Workers Forum for the Aged representing 29 old age homes and community organizations and the Pietermaritzburg and District Council for the Care of the Aged (PADCA).
The following issues were raised at the Hearings:
Abuse by the Department of Welfare:
- Secondary abuse by officials - when pensions are stopped because depart mental records indicate the pensioner has died officials show little interest in restoring the pension and the pensioner is given no information on how to rectify the situation.
- People who have proof that they did re-register but had their pensions stopped are told to register again instead of having their pension instantly restored.
- In Esigodine pensioners queue outside a hall : there is no shelter or seating
- In Vulindlela there is no shelter, shade or seating. The toilets are some distance from the pay-point.
- At s’Nathingi some chairs are provided but not nearly enough. Pensioners complain about “young girls” who collect their child support grants on the same days and push aside the pensioners.
- Conditions have not improved since payouts was sub-contracted to CPS
- Deductions made from the pension can amount to R80: This includes R10-20 for transport, R10 to someone to queue for the pensioner and R25-R50 for a funeral policy.
- Many pensioners are unaware of why deductions are made from their pensions, particularly of Cornerstone Funeral Parlour. They have no supporting documentation. Cornerstone decide to whom they will pay out monies, discouraging members from nominating their own beneficiaries.
- When Cornerstone Funeral Parlour was introduced they promised to build toilets and shelters at pay-points. Nothing has happened. People also allege they are enrolled in the scheme without their approval.
Health care:
- This is becoming increasingly difficult for elderly people to access.
- Northdale is the only hospital with an outpatients department. The hospital has stopped issuing repeat prescriptions for chronic medication.
- Elderly patients must now be seen by a doctor every month instead of six-monthly. This means queuing for 4-5 hours.
- The cost of the doctor, the medication and the transport causes many patients to forego their treatment. Ironically, patients say they were not well enough to go to hospital on a particular day.
Abuse in the family:
- Many elderly are concerned about the lack of respect by the youth.
- Adult children expect their parents to care for their children without assistance, Grandparents are becoming increasing resentful of this practice.
- Increasing cases of abuse are being reported to PADCA. These include physical abuse by grandchildren and neglect by children and grandchildren who collect pensions but provide little care or support. Pensioners are often banished to an outside room and given little food. Cases are increasing of children accessing their grand-parents life savings.
Housing:
- There are few housing options for the pensioner. The government only assists with accommodation for the very frail. Residential facilities are beyond the reach of state pensioners. There is a desperate need for secure, affordable accommodation for the elderly.
Rates and service charges:
- Elderly people are finding it more and more difficult to pay rates and service charges and in arrears and having their services disconnected. Local governments need to make substantial reductions on services to pensioners.
Transport:
- Many pensioners reported bad experiences with taxis - drivers are impatient and do not allow passengers time to alight safely or refuse to stop and take pensioners far beyond their stop. White elderly in particular are treated aggressively, are afraid to use taxis but can afford no other transport.
The Public Hearing was attended by 1,544 people. They came from Ezakheni, Msinga, Shalastone, Ngogo, Newcastle, Olivershoek, Singatha, Bergville, Tholeni, Madadeni, Driefontein, Moba, Qinisa, St.Charles, Dundee, Glencoe, Uitrecht, Embizeni, Pieters, Dengal, Itholeni,, Somsuku, Limeville, Kwawathi, Lucitania, Embuthu, Vaalkop, Ematiwane, Jononoskop, Steadville, Spunderkron, Nazareth, Charlestown, Sun River-Indaka, Ephumuleni, Ntokozweni, Manzabilayo, Msingatha, Ngobozana, Tafufu, Tshandatshe, Xhorana, Ngqoza, Modikane, Mtambalala, Goqwana, Mantlaneni, Mxhokozweni, Cornfields, Escourt, St Chads Mcitsheni, Wasbank, Mooi River, Sun Chets, Msinga, Brutville, Mzimkhulu Village, Highlands, Mount Frere. Dannhauser, Somsoek, Tugela Ferry, Kokstad
The following issues were raised:
Pensions:
Why are you taking away our grants?
- The names of 375 Pensioners from Newcastle whose pensions were suspended were submitted by the Newcastle Organisation of the Aged. They registered in April 1999 and now have to register again.
- Long queues and lack of shelter at pay-points are problems “A lot of people die while waiting”.
- At the Lakheni Paypoint congestion was caused by taxis, wheel-chairs and pensioners. This led to pushing and conflict in the queues.
- Why wasn’t the community hall at Wasbank used on pay days?
- Loan sharks and people selling of home brewed beer on account are problems at pay-points.
- People have to travel long distances to pay-points- “carrying pensioners in blankets from Okhombe to Emazizini”. The request for help on the return journey had not been met. Mr Mbele travels from Utrecht to Ladysmith at a cost of R100 plus meals at the pay-point.
- There are too few clerks at the payouts. They are rude, they don’t want to listen and people are afraid to apply for pensions.
- CPS does not keep to its timetable. CPS machines do not operate properly. At one point pensioners have to pay R1 towards a generator for CPS “because the government has no funds.”
- “Could the government please inform the 70 and 80 year olds if their pensions are stopped because they faint and get sick when they get to the paypoint and find there is no money.” (Edith Visagie, Utrecht)
- Members of pension committees are unsafe. They witness robberies and they are unprotected (May Mazibuko, Bergville Pensions Committee).
- One pensioner pays Rosethorpe funeral directors R20 for death insurance but fears she will get a paupers funeral like her friend who had paid for many years.
- “Cornerstone has given us transport, shelter and toilets”: one pensioner claimed.
- Umsinga Umbrella Committee raised the issue of files lost in pension offices and pensioners required to reapply again and again.
- “What is the policy on back pay? Some get it and some do not “(Samson Ndlovu, Tholeni)
- It was reported that the payouts in Ezakheni took three days. People flocked there on the first day and had to bribe the clerks to get their pensions.
- Procurators have to carry the bedridden to pay points or CPS staff chase them away. They are sent up and down between district and regional offices.
Home Affairs
- The Department does not help people get their IDs - the clerks are very cheeky.
- One man reported that his date of birth on his ID showed him as 50 years old but he has a son of 68!
- “There are two females of about 72 years old in my village . They don’t possess IDs and they don’t get pensions. They are starving - sleeping without food in their stomachs. ”(Lucitania Paralegal Office).
- One submission reported that one of the officials from Home Affairs was working fromhome and fraudulently taking other peoples money.
Corruption:
- Corruption takes place in the Department of Social Welfare where fraud is the daily bread of the clerks (Lucitania Paralegal Office).
- Several submissions claimed that Pension Committees and clerks demanded R20 to facilitate applications. This had been reported to Ulundi but the only action taken was that the pension of the person who challenged the practice was suspended.
- It was alleged that an unauthorized illegal office which charges R30 is processing registration and applications.
- A pensioner reported receiving a note to collect R4070 as his first pension payment but received only R2070.
- Pension Committee members demand money for helping the elderly (Dannhauser Victim Support Centre).
- The amount on the slip is not the same as the cash received (Alexina Mazibuko , Transitional Local Council).
- Pensioners Committees are asking R300 a year from pensioners for transport. The money is used to build toilets.
- People employed by government are selling small purses for keeping smart cards for R10. CPS security is also demanding R10.
- “CPS is not trustworthy. They are cheats. We feel that government should not renew their licence”.
Abuse In The Community
- A 69 year old said her grandson abused her , demanding food and clothing yet not wanting to work.
- Stranded and abused elderly do not have shelters or homes where they can be accommodated safely and cared for.
- Four elderly people asked for housing. Some had been relocated due to the violence.
- Someone raised concern over elderly people being chased out of their homes by their children and forced to live in shacks or back rooms.
- There was rape of the elderly and criminals were robbing them but no action from SAPs. An elderly women complained that she was assaulted by her son who chased her with a knife when she received her pension. The case was reported to the police but they had done nothing.
- Some single pensioners are raped by young people: HIV/AIDs patients believe when they sleep with young and old people they will be healed. When such cases are reported to the police the suspects are released without being charged.
- Mrs Sithole of Makhasi Old Age Homes said elderly people were brought to the home by social workers because of neglect at home. This is not investigated. The home management does not have the powers to stop the perpetrators from removing the elderly people from the home.
- Mrs Mbatha of Sunchester reported having to travel long distance to fetch water.
- An elderly person complained that they had to pay for electricity and water but did not under stand the charges.
In February 2000 public hearings by the Joint Standing Committee on Public Participation and Petitions were held in many parts of the province around the issue of pension and grant suspensions. Many of the issues raised in the course of these hearings were echoed in the Public Hearings which this Committee held.
In spite of the recommendation that these problems be addressed urgently, very little seemed to have changed when this Committee visited in May.
The following observations of the Joint Standing Committee are worth repeating here:.
- Long delays between application and payment of pensions
- Poor administration in the transfer of payments between the Welfare Department, banks and post offices and a lack of helpfulness by all three if a payment went astray, was not claimed or was paid out to the wrong person. The onus was on the rightful beneficiary to take action even though they were not informed where their pay-point was or the mistake was the fault of the bank or the department.
- A lack of grievance procedures, a shortage of staff and the frustration experienced in trying to find someone with whom to raise grievances and try to solve problems.
- A poor system to review and track old age and permanently disabled people
- Inadequate administrative infrastructure and staff, a lack of computers or even telephones and fax machines in most offices in rural areas and small towns, yet the Department did not take up offers of help from civil society.
- Fraud was rife but the Department seldom took action
Public Hearings were held in the Teachers Training College , a new building now standing empty . About 800 people were bussed in from Pondoland , Umtata and many surrounding villages. The following issues were raised:
Elder abuse:
20 cases of elder abuse were reported including assault , theft of pension and eviction by children , rape and robbery by young people known to the elders . Most cases had been reported to the police and other authorities but little or no action is alleged to have been taken against the culprits.
Pensions:
In other parts of the Eastern Cape pensions are paid by the post office but here divisions between local headmen have prevented this so Department officials make cheque payments. They often arrive late. The next day pensioners must queue to cash or deposit their cheques at one of the two local banks. There is a fear that if they ask the Department to pay pensions direct into their accounts they may lose them again . Getting a pension or restoring one seems to be a major burden for many people. There is also fear that officials may retaliate against those who complain. Independent checks on officials were requested. It was also alleged that new pensioners have to give a commission to officials. Cheques continue to be issued to deceased and to be claimed when these names are called out by officials. There are often mistakes on cheques and sometimes cheques are stolen by officials.
Disability grants:
Many younger disabled people attended the hearings (132 cases were reported to the help desk). The cancellation of disability grants is a big issue here. There is considerable confusion over the difference between this grant (temporary and permanent) and old age pensions. As one person pointed out: “Disability Grants are given if you are ill from starvation and taken away when you are well again!” But the main criticism was that recipients were not notified if a grant is rejected, suspended or canceled: “We are human beings!” declared one old man. Many problems are caused when this happens. No records seem to be kept of applications and social workers do not explain the appeals procedure (if indeed they know it!).
Funeral benefits:
There was much criticism of cheques being withheld if the pensioner had died - this money would help to pay for the funeral. Instances were recounted of relatives applying for but never receiving this money. It was further alleged that burial societies were ripping off pensioners some of whom pay R100 a month for ten years and then receive only R2000 for their funeral. There was a request for a national scheme or some guidelines/controls on burial societies.
Conditions at pay points:
There are no shelters or protection from the hot, wet and cold weather yet pensioners have to wait from early morning. Officials often arrive late without even offering an explanation.
Home Affairs:
12 cases of ID/Home Affairs problems were reported: Affidavits are not being accepted as verification of age. Many old people are illiterate and do not know their birth dates. New IDs make the same mistakes as old IDs. Home Affairs offices are far away and they don’t give new applicants an exact date to collect ID - as is done in cities. Temporary IDs should take one week only.
Other problems:
- Elders in Dubani Location are forced to pay R100 a month towards the salaries of pre-school teachers.
- Social workers don’t care about pensioners, speak rudely to them, don’t follow up complaints, are some times drunk.
- Roads and bridges have been washed away by heavy rains , cutting off access to pay points.
Members of the Committee visited the hospital and spoke with a number of elderly patients. There were several empty beds. The wards were rather dilapidated and not very clean but rehabilitation of the hospital had started in other wards. There were no complaints about treatment at the hospital and several relatives were visiting and helping to care for patients.
The Public Hearing was attended by about 600 people including the Mayor, the MP and the Regional Director. It was held in a Teachers Training College that has closed. The audience was mostly elderly and more positive about current policies than was the case in Lusikisiki. However, there was criticism of the emphasis being given to children’s rights and the effect this had on grand childrens’ behavior. When parents tell children to go to work one replied she had never seen an old cow sucking from a calf. The main concern over pensions seemed to be that when people die before being paid the cheque is withdrawn- “Ask the government not to neglect us when we are dead.”
The Chief of Herschell also focused on children: blaming the government for children overstepping their rights and showing disrespect. He wanted the government to see that the message reached remote areas - “To the blacks the elderly person is a god.”
Pemmy Majodina, NCOP member, raised the following issues:
- Long queues at pay points and no social workers to oversee treatment there.
- Sometimes pensioners wait the whole day at banks without being served (clapping). FNB was the only bank in Sterkspruit and staff had a bad attitude . There were separate queues and tellers for pensioners. The bank deducted commission from withdrawals (although we were informed that the Standard Bank in PE accepts pensioners without charging commission).
- There should be an office in each town to advise on burial societies (clapping)
- Pensioners were pestered to pay high sums for furniture .
- Each town should have a welfare forum to attend to problems such as assaults by grandchildren.
- There is no computer in Sterkspruit welfare office so all forms have to be taken to Queenstown. This leads to lengthy delays.
OTHER PROBLEMS RAISED AT HEARINGS:
- 24 cases of elder abuse were reported at private hearings. They included reports of family violence to elderly women and their exploitation by daughters who dump children on them and borrow their pensions;
- Bad roads are a serious problem for the elderly because of the long distances to banks and social workers offices.
- Pay-points are badly located and there are no shelters
- Police are often drunk or sleeping and not available for duty
- People from Lesotho are collecting pensions and stealing livestock
- The pension payment system is a counter service in most of the area. The Post Office pays out on 3 days and thereafter the pension can be collected at the post office in cash. In Sterkspruit officials hand out cash as there are not enough post offices.
- No set itinerary for pay outs - changes are made month by month and there was a complaint at the hearings that people are not adequately informed of payout dates. No regular counter service in small towns. People tended to play the system - if rejected in one town they go to the next to apply, changing their story. The system can’t pick this up. The system cannot generate letters - letters from the MEC on grant stoppages had to be delivered by hand but staff often failed to locate beneficiaries at addresses given.
- Confirmation from Home Affairs is required if an application is rejected as “deceased” even though officials have seen the person and ID. Lack of 13 digit ID is still a problem: 1 in 10 grants in the district were cut at re-registration.
- Every file has to go to Queenstown. Bisho is supposed to pay out on pension applications within 3 months but some files have been lying there for up to a year. The person in charge lacks the necessary skills but refuses to devolve power to Queenstown.
- Moving beneficiaries to a new pay-point is a major operation though it should just be a code change. The Social Security manual is not consistent with the system.
- No action is taken when staff are reported for taking vehicles or being drunk - not even a warning. Legal officer never calls round. No investigation was made when money went missing from a safe.
Huis van de Horst, Aliwal North:
The Manager and Board refused to allow a visit by Committee members or to answer questions without an advance official request being considered by the Committee. This home receives a substantial number of subsidies. We were informed by local social workers that there had been reports of abuse and that the home did not admit any black elders. A full report was sent to the MEC with a copy to the Minister, calling for in investigation. We understand that the investigation is now complete. There are apparently a number of other homes in the area where the same practices apply.
Public Hearings were held in Mdantsane, attended by the MEC and local dignitaries and about 300 elderly people.
Private submissions included 2 reports of financial and one of physical abuse by family members and several reports of suspected theft of grants by officials . A representative of the Ministers’ Fraternity, Mdantsane indicated that poverty funds were not getting to this area, officials are not being punished and cheques for the deceased are stolen. He proposed that the government appoint ministers with commendations from the church to act as a watchdog.
The following issues were raised:
Pensions:
- Applications take too long to be approved
- Sometimes pensions are approved and paid out to the wrong person
- Forgery and robbery are common problems
- Notices for pay days are put on the notice board but most old people cannot read
- Arrears are not paid in full when suspended pensions are restored -break-downs of what is due and what has been paid are not given to pensioners.
- A complainant reported that a burial society had refused to pay the expense of burying his wife although she was a member.
Abuse:
- A senile old lady is locked in the house by her daughter for days without food. The daughter spends her mother’s pension in the shebeen. Last year she left a burning candle with her mother. It fell, burning her mothers legs before the neighbours could intervene. This was one of several reports of alcohol abuse affecting pensioners.
- An old man reported that his grand-children were unruly, demanded his pension and brought boy-friends to the house. He wants them to leave.
- An elderly lady reported being physically abused by her brother and sister because their parents left the house to her. Police and social workers do not respond to her complaints.
Community services:
- There was a report by the Old Age Association of Ginsberg who are struggling to get a site for projects but cannot get the local council to take pensioners needs seriously.
The main problem, according to officials, was pensioners being “taken off as deceased”. This is difficult to follow up with Home Affairs . If the system reinstates a pension, it will be stopped again the following month. No information on a cancellation is available at pay-points so claimants have to go to the office. The final cheque cannot be paid to the immediate family without a death certificate and a funeral invoice for the computer - then it takes at least a month before the payment is made. No benefits are paid if pensioner dies the day after receiving a payment - only unclaimed benefits are paid. Sadly, this policy has not been explained to pensioners.
Officials saw the SOCPEN 5 program , in terms of which pensions are administered by the National Department, as very problematic - it was adequate in 1994/5 but is now a nightmare, said an official. They were unable to generate payment for unclaimed benefits and unable to enter cases onto system. It did not inform provinces of suspensions so they couldn’t inform beneficiaries.
- DJ Sobey Old Age Home: This home was visited by Committee members, unannounced. The.72 beds which were all occupied. Staff left the visitors alone with residents. The atmosphere was relaxed and the home clean and comfortable. Previously this was classified as a coloured home but is now mixed. Visiting hours are restricted and visitors are not allowed in the bed rooms (though we saw some there). A 98 year old woman complained she doesn’t get the balance of her pension and has to depend on friends (who have adopted her) for everything. The home depends on government subsidies and fund-raising in the community.
- The Pooling System for Homes : DJ Sobey and five other homes in the area are linked. Applications for residential care are considered at a monthly meeting of the six homes. Individuals specify their preferences but vacancies and the urgency of a particular application determines where a person is placed. All six homes are now racially mixed. This seemed like a model which could well be replicated elsewhere in the country.
- Nazareth House, Port Elizabeth: A complaint was received that an elderly resident faced eviction because of information his daughter gave to a staff members. The matter was resolved before it got to court.
Ms Kongisa of Gompo attended the Public Hearings in East London and this project was visited by committee members.
Gompo was established in 1982 to provide for groups not catered for in white old age homes. It now targets the aged in all population groups. It has a strong volunteer base and motivates aged persons to take charge and be involved in community projects which will improve their health and prolong and enrich their lives . This is done by means of a number of programmes:
- The Friendly Visiting cum Meals on Foot Programme in which housebound frail persons are visited by able bodied elderly from their own neighbourhood.
- The Homecarer Training and Community-based Nursing Programme in which professional nurses promote community based nursing services and the training of early school leavers as Home Carers to supplement the Friendly Visitor inputs. The intention is to reduce the need for frail elderly to go into old age homes. The programme is linked to local clinics and hospitals and has a daily transport service to take house-bound patients to hospital .
- Another programme addresses the problems of loneliness, hunger, abuse and homelessness among the elderly by establishing multi-purpose centers, half-way houses for the vagrant aged, luncheon clubs and job opportunities for volunteers.
- A programme to address the problems of poverty and unemployment among pensioners and their dependents by promoting literacy and numeracy and small business enterprises such as sewing, community gardens, poultry and pig raising and waste recycling.
Scope and Limitations of Gompo :
Gompo operates in six districts of East London, including Duncan Village, Mdantsane and settlements between them. It has a total of 1897 active members and 852 housebound members. Each district team is headed by a social worker. Most of the resources to run the programmes have been raised from private funders as there has been little ongoing support from the Department of Welfare. Applications for poverty alleviation funds have been unsuccessful. This severely hampers the further development of the scheme.
Housing
- Presentations were made by elderly people who wanted help in getting land and materials, meeting places and income generating projects. They were the Makukhanye Association for the Aged , the Nonqubela Project and the Uitenhage Association for the Aged and Disabled. There had been no response to their requests from the local authority.
- Mrs Swartbooi of Self Help and Resources Exchange reported that frail people were living in shacks and were afraid to report abuse. Training for home carers and safe houses were needed.
Abuse:
- A representative of SHARE reported that 70% of the cases they dealt with were for elderly abuse and neglect. There were reports of bedridden old people kept in back yard shacks without anyone to wash them, change bedding or cook for them and no-one to take them to the clinic or call an ambulance if they were ill. They ended up with bed sores, in a filthy state. Often they were from families which drank heavily.
Pensions
- Committee members visited a Uitenhage pay point and met the paymaster. They were told of six burial societies allowed to recruit and collect from pensioners as soon as they received their pensions. Most were not registered. The number of money lenders was as big as that of pensioners.
Residential Homes
- Home-based homes: two home-based homes run by Mrs Swartbooi were visited by Committee members. There were eight people in one house which was smelly and unhygienic. Residents alleged they were forcibly removed from their homes by relatives. 80% of their pension is taken by Mrs Swartbooi. Residents are locked in the yard.
- Kwanobuhle home :15 pensioners and 44 staff members occupy a rented hall. R350 is deducted from their pensions for upkeep. Women occupy one side of the hall and men the other. There is nothing for them to do. The arrangement is quite unsuitable.
On 13 June two members of the Committee visited Nelspruit to meet with traditional leaders and prepare for the Public Hearings. They also visited the Kabokweni Pension Pay-point where they found hawkers outnumbering pensioners, the absence of satisfactory toilets and a Departmental official who operated from inside his car. No priority in the queue seemed to be given to the frail elderly.
KaMkhutshwa 27 June 2000
The Hearing was attended by 537 people from Buffelspruit, Daarnjie, Lekagi, White River, Kannamajare, Empageni, Phiva, Mzinti, Fig Tree, Komatipoort, Steenbok, Ngodini, Malekutu, Kabokweni, Stembiso, Mbangwane, Kamsogwaba, Goba, Mananga, Msogwana, Schoemansdal, Middelplaas, Jeppes Reef, Done Koppies. Mpakeni, Kamkushwa, Mbuzini, Langloop, Diekoppies Kenyemazana, Masogwara
Badplaas 28 June 2000. The Hearing was attended by 677 people from Balfour, Standerton, Ermelo, Badplaas, Machadasdorp, Embalenhle, Bethal, Emzinoni, Magason, Secunda, Wesselton, Amsterdam, Mayflower, Fernie, Elukwatini, Crisiesmeer, Carolina, Lothair, Breyton, Hlazatshe, Selvey, Emfeni, Piet Retief, Mhluzi
Kwa Phaahla on 29 June 2000. The Hearing was attended by 904 people from Siyabuswa, Moloto, Vals, Tweefontein, Pankop,Merapyane, Vaalbank, Ammeldrif, Middleberg, Witbank, Kenhouthood, Kwagga, Matieslop, Wakraal, Vaalbank, Enveldrift, Mogaeneng, Belfast, Dennilton, Elandsdoorn, B’Hoek, Almondrift, Klopper, Msindo, Tuolino, Leeuwkuil, Weltegrede, Moloto, Toitskraal, Bundu Inn, Tuis en Loop.
Issues raised at the Hearings are summarized under the following headings
COMMUNITY ISSUES
Abuse:
- Financial abuse included several submissions about grand children who had robbed pensioners and taken over their houses. One grandchild stole the pensioners card and took out a loan, leaving the pensioner destitute. Another grandchild took his grand- mothers pin number and withdrew all her savings. Husbands were also accused on misusing their own pensions and depending on their wives to care for them.
- Physical abuse included reports of the rape of grand-parents by grand-children, a grand-daughter on drugs who was aggressive to her grandmother and whose mother promised but failed to remove her. “Young maidens do not want to stay with grannies”, observed one old lady. Even after a court order one abusive husband refused to leave the home.
- Psychological abuse: A pensioner complained of being abandoned by her two sons. Another complained of sons who insulted her. Alcohol abuse was a problem in some families.
- Neglect: A report from Kanyamazana told of three elders living in one house - they were not washed or given food. “The house stinks”. The owner refused to employ caretakers. The reporter wished to remain anonymous.
Clubs
- Bambanani Club for the Aged reported that they had a site but no hall or funds to build one. At Weltevrede there was no structure for a service center.
- At Vaalbank pensioners reported that the hall had been taken away from them to be used as an Imbizo place.
- One pensioner complained that the elderly were not called to community meetings and were denied the right to speak as they were “too old”.
Social workers
- There was only one social worker at Lebuhang and she could not cope with the work load.
- Social workers had not come to Piet Retief the whole year.
- Social workers were unable to visit Pankop because they had no transport.
HEALTH
- Pensioners complained that clinic nurses were harsh and used foul language.
- A pensioner from Mbalenhle said the clinic nurse told her she was not responsible for her ageing and refused to give her medicine. Sometimes there was no medicine.
- Some clinics were under-staffed (Emfeni).
HOUSING
- This was a major issue at the Hearings in this Province. Many pensioners complained about living in shacks which leaked and about promises of houses failing to materialize.
- Flooded homes had not been repaired or replaced. One pensioner and her family which lost their house in the floods were still sleeping outside: “The government is only interested in Mozambique”, she observed. “Our houses are broken (Dondoyi), there are big holes. We have reported it but no-one will help us.”
- There was a desperate need for houses for Emfeni pensioners. “There are no houses, all we hear is promises”. Two pensioners at Badplaas complained that their houses were “disgusting” - they had no electricity.
- “We suffered from the removals. The people who now occupy our area have infrastructure but we are moved from one shack area to another. There is a lot of discrimination” (Standerton)
- Mrs Enid Gulube of Embalanhle Luncheon Club, Badplaas and raised the issue of old women being kicked out of their homes after the death of their husbands or having to give their houses to their sons. Two pensioners appealed for houses as they lost their houses when their husbands died.
PENSIONS
- Pension applications took up to three years. Several pensioners reported not having received the promised R20 increase.
- One pensioner only received R440 - no reason was given.
- Another pensioner had her grant stopped in December 1999 and was told to call the next pay day - she is still calling EVERY MONTH and not receiving her grant.
- “My pension is never full” (Elandsdoorn). Pensioners were paid short and harassed by officials if they complained.
PAY-POINTS
- “Pay days are more difficult that any other day in life”. Many elderly people sleep at the pay- points. “in case the money gets finished”. There is no shelter, no water, no chairs and no decent toilets. Toilets become unbearable when it rains (Balfour and Lukwatini).
- At least five pensioner committee members reported that they had been promised payment but received nothing.
- Abuse at pay-points had increased - the tribal police used to assist but there was no longer money to pay them. The tribal authorities had “gone to sleep”. The marshals put their friends in front of the queues and collected R10 when they were paid.
- Loan sharks took IDs and seized pensions - some pensioners went home without a cent. “Disrespectful women” sold liquor. Hawkers forced pensioners to buy - there was no restriction around the pay-point. They blocked the entrance, leaving no space for wheel-chairs.
- Some pensioners had R30 deducted from their pensions by burial societies. Funeral parlors provided cheap or second hand coffins to pensioners.
- Committee members visited the pay-point at Kwabokweni. They found the CPS paying outside a store - they claimed they had no say where pay-points were located. The toilets were squalid, inadequate and dangerously located for older persons. A social worker from the Department was interviewing pensioners from inside her car - her excuse was that the Department did not have chairs and tables. One old woman was transported in a wheel-bar row. She had arrived at 5 a.m. and had been queuing ever since. Transport to the pay-point costs many pensioners R20, the vehicles are in a bad state of repair and break down.
HOME AFFAIRS AND IDS
- Officials refused to register children with the reputed father’s name unless he was present.
- It was alleged that officials only assisted their friends or if they were bribed .
- Some pensioners reported that their grand-children did not have birth certificates or IDs.
- The major problem is mistaken birth-dates on IDs and lack of proof of the correct date. Many elders were unable to get a pension for this reason. Would affidavits from church ministers be acceptable to Home Affairs?
BANKS:
Many pensioners would like to use banks but experienced the following problems:
- They were unable to withdraw all their money
- There was no local branch
- Bank charges should not be made
- They did not get the full pension from the bank - they were told the balance was saved but this was not shown in the bank book
LOCAL SERVICES
Water:
- Some have taps, others walk long distances to fetch water In some areas a card was needed to access water. Some reported having neither water nor electricity (Pankop and Skilpadfontein).
- Water bills were too high in Ntsikazi..
- We need phones to contact our children in the cities ( a pensioner from Pankop.)
- Special consideration for the elderly was sought - they should not have to pay for water if their pension is suspended.
Rent:
- Rents were exorbitant. In Standerton it was reported that rebates were only given to favourites and friends. Some pensioners said they were unable to pay the rent - “It takes my entire pension”.
- A request for a rebate for pensioners came from Balfour. A pensioner from Vaalbank said dirt and water were not removed from where she lived - “We need a clean place”.
- Pensioners from Elandsdoorn and Middleburg complained of high rents and asked for rebates.
- In Kwa Mhlutshwa electricity charges were unaffordable but the local council threatened disconnections and refused to negotiate.
CRIME AND CORRUPTION
- It was alleged that people from Mozambique stole pensioners’ livestock but the police took no action.
- There were three different reports of stolen goods not returned by the police.
- From Emfeni it was reported that there were a lot of guns but there were no police in the area.
- A pensioner reported she was unable to plough because of the security problem. “Thugs stole my cattle. Today my bike was stolen”, reported another. The police service is poor - they claimed they had no transport but their record keeping was also faulty and they lost dockets.
- In Vaalbank “theft is rife”.
- An elderly woman reported that the representative of the small farmers organization had taken money for a tractor but not delivered it. The police refused to act although the culprit was well known
- In Kwa Shongwe it was alleged a social worker collected R5 from pensioners for a shelter but the shelter was not built. In Schoemansdal too pensioners contributed to a shelter but the money vanished.
WITCHCRAFT
- Elderly people living alone or without children seem particularly vulnerable to abuse and to accusations of witchcraft.
- In one case an old lady was evicted by youth and unable to return to her home because of threats and the refusal of the police to protect her.
- A neighbour’s fire spread to a pensioners home and they threatened her because she reported the matter to the police.
- One old lady in Piet Retief was accused of killing a family member by her neighbours.
- An old lady who stays alone had her house broken into and all her belongings stolen - she was warned that if she did not keep quiet she would die.
Herfsakker Outehuis, Nelspruit.
The home has 80 frail residents and is subsidized. All the residents are white as are management and members of the Board. The Committee was told that black elderly did not want to come into the home as they would forfeit their pension. The unit cost is R1,800 per month. There is an outreach programme which trains care givers in the community. No cases of abuse were reported but there were reports of residents “hurting themselves”. Families were blamed for giving them un-prescribed medication. The complaints box had never been used.
Gugulethu St. Benedicts Home:
The home was registered in 1984 but did not receive a low interest government loan. It is subsidized by the Catholic Church. It had 56 residents, 33 of them were frail. It receives a unit cost subsidy of R1,400 per resident.
Huis Immergroen in Witbank :
Run by the SAVF, this home was established in 1964. It provides for 78 frail elderly and assisted living for 30 persons in self-catering units. There are also 22 flats housing 45 persons.
The home has an outreach program serving the township of Schoongezicht through a luncheon club. This club was approved for a subsidy, but it was never paid.
The home has a management committee which includes two black members. It appears to be well managed. The unit cost is R1800 per month for frail persons who are admitted irrespective of social or financial status , colour or creed . 58% of residents only get the social pension. There is strong emphasis on sharing and participation in community projects. This home was the first “white” home to admit black residents. 6 of the 58 frail residents are black.
Abuse protocol: The home follows the prescribed protocol. Staff are trained to be alert to signs of abuse - bruises, withdrawal, depression, changed habits etc. The home has a TV monitor system in all rooms, corridors, wards, bathrooms and lounges. The staff believe that this is essential to prevent abuse. There is some abuse between residents , especially married couples and from time to time family members abuse older persons, especially financially.
Facilities and care standards: The frail care ward is in a converted hall but the atmosphere is good , there are unacceptable odors, and communication between residents and staff is open. The assisted living facilities were basic. Residents undertake tasks like serving meals, washing up, cleaning etc. In view of subsidy changes this facility is very important. The housing units were well kept.
Problems experienced by the Home:
- Deteriorating health services, long queues at clinics and hospitals, admission problems, no medication, inadequate ambulance services.
- Little government support for community based services like the Schoongezight Club. Apparently the subsidy was approved, but the cheque was never issued.
- Inadequate guidance from the Provincial Department on transformation, legislative requirements etc.
- Financial constraints: Subsidies remain static but costs are increasing.
St Joseph’s Home for the Aged, Middelburg
The building was a school hostel for boys before 1977 when it was converted into an Old Age Home. Of the 51 residents, 24 receive a subsidy. 10 flats are being built. The organisation has outreach programs including a luncheon club and a shelter for homeless and abused persons
Structure and Services:
The home is managed by a board of Management and Bishop Nkhumishe of the Catholic Church as the President. It is well managed with a unit cost of R1850-00 per month. Policy to admit all persons who require care, irrespective of religion or ethnic origins.
DQ98 is observed and a thorough assessment is done at admission. The problem is that persons who were admitted in a state of severe neglect or abuse recover so well that they no longer qualify for a subsidy. However, if they have return to the community they might again suffer from abuse or neglect since there is little or no community based care.
Abuse Protocol:
The home does not have an abuse protocol but uses the Departmental guidelines. Staff are regularly briefed and train to ensure optimal protection for residents. There is a problem of children exploiting residents financially.
Abuse in the community is also a problem and SAPS are not able to handle cases of abuse. In one case where family members withheld food from an older person, SAPS did not want to intervene and no social worker was willing to investigate.
The manager believes that the following steps are necessary to combat abuse:
- Proper staff selection and ongoing training
- Proper supervision and TV Monitoring
- A community unit comprising all key stakeholders.
Problems experienced:
- Health services have deteriorated resulting in inadequate attention by doctors and no medicines.
- There is little guidance and motivation by the Department of Welfare to develop a broader base of services. The shelter established by the organisation is not used.
- Caregivers need to be deployed in the township where frail persons are living at home.
Public Hearings were held in Kimberley on 15 and in Upington on 16 May 2000. Following the hearings a number of visits took place to homes for the aged in Kimberley, the San community in Smithsdrift and Upington and Keimoes with the investigation into abuse at the ND Swartz Homes.
1.1 The Hearing was held in the City Hall and attended by 350 persons, mostly from disadvantaged communities. There was much appreciation for the initiative of the Minister in addressing abuse. In total 32 persons gave evidence in public, and 14 per sons in camera. The following issues were raised:
1.1.1 Decline of moral standards and respect to older persons
A number of people expressed the view that the younger generation shows no respect to their elders and believe they have more rights than the aged. The role and leader ship of the church in this regard was questioned and some church leaders accused of marginalising and abusing older persons. For example the churches hardly speak out against the problems facing older persons such crime, exploitation and pension problems.
1.1.2 Social Pensions
- Loan sharks are very active at pension pay points and over 60% of pensioners owe money to micro lenders and shebeens. They pay between 30 - 40% interest per month. Identity documents are surrendered to the loan sharks and pensioners are assaulted or threatened if they do not pay.
- The paymaster refuses to pay out the pension to a family member if a pensioner is in hospital.
- Many pay points lack of water, toilets, shelter and chairs. Long queues cause much discomfort. Security is also a problem at pension pay points. Conditions at Warrenton, Barkley West were described as very problematic.
- At Barkley West pensioners are treated like “animals” by officials - forced to stand outside the hall, persons faint and officials care little. The attitude and behavior of pension pay staff and officials of the Department is contemptuous. Efforts by clubs and associations to try to change this fall on deaf ears.
- The Hearing was told that pensioners committees are not interested in the pensioners but try to protect the paymaster officials and officials of the Department of Welfare.
- In general there were fewer complaints about social grants than in other provinces. But certain pay points are not well managed.
1.1.3 Family violence:
A substantial number of people reported on the high incidence of abuse in families. The following were reported:
- Financial abuse: Children force their parents to make loans and part with their money on pension day. The pension has become a curse as pensioners are targets for exploitation.
- Physical abuse: A number of cases were reported of older persons being assaulted by family members. In the majority of these cases alcohol played a significant role. Alcohol abuse is a serious concern and many older persons also abuse alcohol.
- SAPS and Welfare Services are not able to respond timeously and effectively. A number of cases were reported where the police refused to intervene and protect an older person whose safety was at risk.
1.1.4 Local authority services:
Local authorities do not show any sympathy when rates fall into arrears. There are no rebates for social pensioners. A number of persons informed the Committee that the local authorities are not interested in protecting older persons who have been exploited by unscrupulous landlords. Allegations were made that local councilors are involved schemes to force older persons out of their homes. Some older persons are living in hostels where they are at risk.
1.1.5 65 persons presented the plight of the 300 older persons from Smitsdrift.
Their main problems were.
- Housing: Persons still live in tents after 10 years, most tents are torn
- Inadequate supply of water: Persons walk over 2 km for water
- Healthcare is inadequate with only one clinic, a doctor once a month and hardly any medicines.
- Forty residents still do not have identity documents and cannot get social grants. Attempts to resolve this with Home Affairs and the Department of Welfare have failed
Over 600 persons attended the hearing. 73 gave evidence. The older persons, officials and community leaders expressed their satisfaction with the appointment of the committee. The following issues were raised:
2.1 Family Violence dominated the hearings and evidence corroborated that given in Kimberley. Alcohol abuse appears to be a very serious problem in the Upington area, which is known for its wine production. The following are cases in point: Katowa Coetzee (85) is victimized by family in order for them to buy liquor; she is regularly caught up in family fights. Sophia and George , both in there seventies , live with their children. They drink excessively and at times her children have sexual intercourse with Sophia. The water and lights are regularly cut.
2.2 Loan sharks. The problem of alcohol abuse is linked to a very active micro/loan industry in Upington and Keimoes. A number of community leaders wanted this to be addressed but had found Welfare Department staff unable or unwilling to do so. A case in point is that of Jan Africa who owes to a loan shark R300 for as long as he can remember. He keeps on paying R300 per month.
2.3 Water and light accounts. 12 people complained that the local authority was not willing to intervene and stop the suspension of basic services when pensioners fall into arrears.
2.4 Extreme neglect was reported in 7 cases. All were frail persons living at home. A lady of 72 had been left unattended for 3 days and was dehydrated and filthy. . A number of people reported that many elderly do not have a satisfactory nutritional status.
2.5 Discrimination: There were allegations that white homes discriminate against people of colour
ND Swartz Homes for the Aged.
Four staff members and two members of the public gave evidence in camera at the Hearings. The Committee then visited the home. The following allegations were made:
- Food is totally inadequate and residents are malnourished.
- Care is substandard. Residents are not properly bathed, clothed and security staff undertake care tasks.
- The place smells - there is an inadequate supply of cleaning materials..
- Nepotism prevails. The family of Bishop Swartz controls the homes at Upington and Keimoes and looks after themselves before the residents.
- Inadequate health care. Cases were reported of persons who were injured or suffered a serious illness having to wait 2 or 3 days before help was summoned.
- The board and management committee is in conflict with staff, the trade union and service providers (accounts not being paid). There were numerous claims of financial mismanagement, victimization and exploitation of staff.
Staff of the Department of Welfare told the Committee they were unable to resolve the problems at ND Swartz. It was therefore decided to request the MEC for Welfare to intervene. Subsequently the Minister of Welfare and Population Development, Dr Skwiyeya, agreed that the Committee should undertake a full enquiry into the facility. This investigation has been completed and a report submitted to the MEC for Welfare.
During the Hearings in subsequent visits, the following was evident:
4.1 Transformation:
Most of the Welfare services for the aged such as homes and service centres are concentrated in bigger cities and towns. The majority of these centres serve predominantly white people. It appears that transformation moves slowly. Very few white people attended the Hearings and no white organisation gave evidence. From information gathered after the hearings, NGO’s in this province appear to openly resist change.
4.2 Finance
Most homes for the aged are finding it difficult to cope financially, due to subsidy cuts. The Vuyo Old Age Home in Prieska was recently closed for this reason. Its residents were black and were returned to their families - a very unsatisfactory situation.
4.3 Legislative changes
As far as compliance with legislation is concerned, very few persons involved in services for the aged were aware of the Aged Persons Amendment Act of 1998 and the regulations which came into effect on 1st August 2000.
4.4 Clubs
Very few of the clubs for the aged that has been in existence for as long as 8 years receive any Government funding. The functioning of these clubs needs to be evaluated.
4.5 Health Services:
During discussions with local leaders and departmental officials it was clear that due to long distances and lack of infrastructure and resources, health care is not accessible to many elderly people.
4.6 Conclusion:
The Northern Cape’s elderly are plagued by extreme poverty, lack of adequate food, exploitation by moneylenders and family members and inadequate welfare and health services. There is a high incidence of alcohol abuse. The Department of Welfare functions mostly on its own as the voluntary welfare sector is declining due to shortage of resources and resistance to change. A transformation action plan is urgently required. There is no office of the S A Council for the Aged in the province, further hampering development and coordination. Of particular concern is the appalling situation at the ND Swartz Homes in Upington and Keimoes.
Total number of people who attended: - 2900
Total number of persons testifying: - 267
Number of persons in private hearings:- 94
Issues raised at Public Hearings in Northern Province:
(For break-down see Table at end of this report)
Over fifty percent (52,7%) of complaints concerned this. They included the following:
- High number of grant suspensions : This was the result of Operation Clean-up. It caused great anxiety to many people. Up to 70% of those whose grants were suspended in the Northern Province were eventually re-registered. During their suspension people opened accounts at local shops in the hope that the pension will soon be restored. They then fell into arrears which led to water and electricity disconnections or even evictions.
- Non-receipt of arrears after restoration: “is a sore and bitter pill”. A pensioner from Sibasa lost her pension between March and November 1999 - the office promised to pay the arrears but has not. Many pensioners raised this issue and are angry about it, demanding that their arrears be paid. This issue was taken up by the Committee with the Provincial Welfare Department. The Deputy Director General for Social Security said arrears were only paid when lawyers intervened as the computer was unable to pick up this information if it related to an old ID - there was no way of linking old and new IDs. Unfortunately most pensioners who attended the Public Hearings did not bring their old IDs with them. However, 50 names were sent to the Department in the hope they would pay the arrears due.
- Problems with ID’s, particularly the old Venda IDs , were common: Incorrect birth dates and inability to provide proof of correct date, sharing of ID numbers and the cancellation of pensions of non-citizens: “Family members are dead from hunger”, reported a Malawi pensioner whose pension was cancelled in 1998.
- Hospitalization prevents pensioners from drawing their pensions. Cases were reported of persons who discharge themselves in order to receive their grant. A number died or become very seriously ill as a result. The previous cheque system allowed people in hospital to get their pension.
- Disrespect: Pensioners complained bitterly that officials show no patience and are disrespectful. Cases were reported of officials calling older persons names and enjoying confusing them. . The general impression is that older persons are taken for granted. “They don’t worry about us, only the children count,” an old lady said.
- Outsourcing - CPS: Quite a number of cases were reported of persons whose pensions fluctuate with no explanation from Social Security staff or Cash Paymaster Services. CPS machines are old , often malfunction and are badly repaired. This was a very common complaint. Payouts sometimes continue until 23 hours, pensioners leave late or are advised to report to the next pay point the following day - no travel money is provided.
- Information: Pensioners are seldom given correct information on the problems they experience i.e. suspension of grants, identity documents, pension pay-out dates. Officials operate within a system which is not functioning well. In many instances they actually do not know why pensions are suspended or what to do about duplicate or fluctuating pensions. The toll free line pro vides no help.
- Banks: A request was made that pensioners be introduced to commercial banks that could assist them - they are told all sorts of stories about banks. There are difficulties in transferring pensions to a bank - account numbers and bank numbers are supplied but it sometimes takes over a year for pensions to be deposited: One pensioner who was getting his grant at the bank was told to go to CPS. He lost 3 months pension.
- Funeral cover: Pensioners see their final cheque as a contribution towards their funeral expenses but it is not being paid to relatives and it seems to be very difficult for them to access it. There was a call for government accredited funeral cover. The Mutale Community at Dzimauli asked the government to provide a death service for pensioners because some are buried without a coffin. “They die a poor death as it is not every one who has a relative to do the funeral service.”
- There is concern that older persons are not able to stand up for themselves or take action. Doubts were expressed about the functioning of pension committees and how they exercise their responsibility to ensure fair treatment of pensioners and the ironing out of problems. Where pension committees are functioning correctly little problems are experienced at pension pay-points. However, it was claimed that in many cases the pension committees are more interested in pleasing the Department and Cash Paymaster Services then the pensioners.
Health services from primary to tertiary level are problematic on the following grounds:
- Inaccessibility due to long distances, bad roads and unavailability of staff (many clinics are empty).
- Health staff do not regard older patients as a priority. Most of them wait all day or are shuttled between the clinic, doctor and hospital. The attitude and behaviour of staff, especially nurses, leaves much to be desired. Some refer to older persons as “witches”, “useless” or “old crocks”. Sometimes older people are chased away and refused treatment.
- Non-availability of medicines at clinics and hospitals.
- Theft is a problem at most hospitals.
- Elderly patients are discharged with ensuring there is someone to care for them at home.
- Doctors do not always conduct proper examinations. Many doctors hardly touch the patient.
Only in the Tzaneen area did there seem to be reasonable satisfaction with welfare services. In the other three areas over 17% of those testifying had problems with these services.
- Social workers do not know the needs of older persons - clubs and day centres are hardly ever visited.
- There are inadequate forums through which people can convey their concerns.
- Social workers do not see older persons as a priority, in the light of their heavy workload especially in respect of children and HIV/AIDS. They turn a blind eye to elder abuse.
- A number of allegations were made that social workers talk rudely to older persons. “You’ve had your share, give the children a chance.” “ Go home, witch!”. “ I don’t have time to talk”
- Social workers are not able to travel.
- Abuse: It appears as if older persons in deep rural areas are subject to less abuse by family members than in areas like Tzaneen and Pietersburg. There were complaints about declining respect by young people and financial exploitation by families in respect to the social grant.
- Floods: One pensioner reported that pensioners were no included on the flood disaster victims’ list unless they paid R47. An elderly lady from Ha Molema lost her house in the floods and stays with her children and grand-children where there is no privacy or security. She pleaded for her house to be rebuilt. Another pensioner living at Mafefe, Mashabashaba reported that their houses were completely destroyed and social workers completed disaster relief forms for them but they received no compensation.
- Housing: Inadequate housing is a big problem. Older persons could not understand why they were excluded from RDP housing.
- Local Services: Very few local authorities give any rebates on electricity and water charges. Suspension of grants leads to disconnections.
- Other problems: SAPS treat older persons as second-class citizens, they are stigmatized as witches and wizards and they are victimized by loan sharks
- Most services are situated in bigger centres. In deep rural areas older persons basically cannot access services.
- During the Hearings over 50 written submissions were received concerning over 600 persons, all related to Social Security.
- The main concern was the lack of respect by professionals. This complaint needs to be investigated.
Four Public Hearings were held in the province: Vryburg, Mafekeng, Klerksdorp and Rustenburg. People traveled to the Hearings from all corners of the province - not necessarily to the Hearing closest to where they lived. In general, the Committee experienced more problems in this province: management of the hearings was weak, the help desks did not function well and no printed referral forms were available.
Of special concern was the apparent lack of capacity in this Province to properly administer the pension system. This tended to confirm the concern expressed by that the Standing Committee for Social Welfare in the province which, according to newspaper reports, called for an urgent meeting with the MEC in May to discuss the renewal of a contract to a consortium involving people close to provincial government officials, and to address the problems pensioners were experiencing.
In this province CPS entered into a joint venture with a company belonging to a former chief director of strategic planning and development, Bushy Maape. (City Press 21 May 2000)
A break-down of 103 cases recorded at Vryburg (41), Klerksdorp (30) and Mafikeng (32) revealed the following:
- Problems in respect of Social Security dominated the evidence with 70 cases (68%). Pay point problems were the most numerous (50%).
- Abuse, mostly by family members, was high (13,8%). In certain cases older persons alleged that their children treated them like animals. Young people showed little respect to older parents or grandparents.
- Transport (9,7%) and health care (7,7%) are areas of concern.
- Both in complaints about Social Security and abuse by family members there were problems with SAPS. It appears as if older persons are not a priority for the police.
(For details see Table at the end of this report)
Pension pay-outs
- A common complaint at all the Hearings concerned CPS - which arrives late at pay points, is not well organized and makes pensioners wait for long periods without shelter. Nor do they show respect old people. Payments are finally made in late afternoon or early evening (Taung). A pensioner from Kudunkgwane said she had to wait for two or three days before receiving her pension. Several pensioners accused CPS of cheating pensioners by not paying them the full pension. A pensioner from Kudupane said CPS officials tell pensioners the slip was not released by the computer and then take the money for themselves. A committee member from Huhudi complained that many pensions were suspended without explanation, many pensioners were short-paid at pay points and young beneficiaries were unruly. Other complaints concerned frequent computer breakdowns and the money running out before all pensioners had been paid.
- A community representative from Khusaneng said they had 7 pay-points but they didn’t know when they would be paid and waited in vain, without chairs. The pay-point at Immara has no shelters and no facilities.
- When a name did not appear on the computer the pensioner had to travel to Mafekeng to enquire. Pensions due to a deceased person disappeared and relatives received nothing. Back pay disappeared when suspended pensions are restored (Kuruman). Lists of pensioners who had not received their pensions were handed to CPS which promised to investigate after receiving affidavits from social workers in the Department.
- Members of pensioners committee members complained they did not get their payments.
- A pensioners representative from Heuningvlei said children had to leave the elderly to seek employment and a satellite office was needed as it was 400k from the Kuruman office. They also want a pension office at Dry Hats because transport to Taung is expensive.
- There was a complaint that security staff take bribes from pensioners at pay-points and a call for the government to employ volunteers to care for pensioners. Money lenders were a big problem - they collected 30% interest every month at pay-points.
- Alcohol abuse by pensioners was a problem at pay-points, reported community representatives from several centers including Ganyesa and Pampierstad. This should be controlled. A committee member from Dry Hats complained that pensioners are not cared for and come to pay-points very dirty and under the influence.
Community Care
- A pensioner reported that children take pensions by force. An old lady from Vryburg reported that her children and grandchildren refused to help her, pushed her out and refused to do her washing. She had reported them to the police but they chased her away. Another lady from Kuruman reported a theft to the police but they were not interested. She then took the matter to the police forum. SAPS felt threatened and complained that the forum was taking their jobs.
- There was a need for an old age home in the vicinity of Heuningsvlei to care for old people who had left the area to seek employment. There was a request for a service center for the elderly in Bloemhof.
- A community representative from Khusaneng blamed the government for the abuse of children because it had stripped chiefs of their powers , magistrates were discharging young offenders and they could not discipline children because of human rights. An elderly man from Pampierstadt likewise felt that talk of child abuse had caused confusion and the government was responsible for children not wanting to be reprimanded.
- A pensioner from Kuruman reported that grandchildren neglected their parents but when volunteers from the community tried to help they were accused of interfering, Volunteers needed government support to give a proper service. A pensioner from Ganyesa said old people should be encour aged to join community clubs as many were abused by their grandchildren.
Residential homes:
Resoord Old Age Home was visited. 18 deaths were reported last year. Is this being investigated? Whereas the National Department’s Directory of Homes states this home has a capacity of 94, only 30 frail people were in the home at the time of the visit. Who owns the home? All residents are white. The black staff complained about poor wages. Apparently there is no outreach programme and there are no black members on the management committee
Transport
Lack of transport was a problem in Taung, social workers could not visit and they were told that the government did not have money for transport. Transport was also a problem in Bloemhof. A pensioner from Egron called for government subsidies for buses.
Health
- There was a request from Ganyesa that pensions not be stopped when pensioners are hospitalized .
- There was a complaint that hospitalized elderly do not get attention.
- A pensioner from Bloemhof complained that medication had been reduced. The mobile clinic at Kudumong was only available twice a month and did not have medication for the elderly.
- A pensioner from Galitulli, near Kuruman, complained that the clinic had been closed.
- There was a request from Gatlhose-Loopeny for home care and transport to hospital for frail elderly.
- More nurses were needed at Glenred (Catherine Appolus).
- A plea was made for older people to get skills in caring for people with HIV/AIDS
The following issues were raised:
Pensions
- Arrears should be paid from the date of application if pensionable age has been reached .
- Grants are summarily suspended and when re-instated arrears are not paid.
- A claim for unpaid benefits was submitted by the widow with a death certificate in February 1999 - nothing has been received.
- A report from Ventersdorp alleged money is being issued to CPS but not paid to the pensioner (vouchers provided)
- Long queues, long waiting time and exposure to weather at pay points. No seats, no toilets, no water at Schweizer Reineke.
- CPS arrive late at Ottosdal and pensioners do not get home until after dark - some are attacked and robbed
- Undue delays in transfer of pensions when people move house.
- A Pensioners Committee member from Makwasie said they were promised transport on pay days but this never materialized. It costs her R10 a day which she cannot afford.
- A complaint from Lichtenberg alleged burial societies were cheating people and not fulfilling promises.
Disability Grants
There were many reports of cancellation of disability grants without reason - unfortunately few details of claimants’ disabilities were recorded . Many complained that they had not been informed their grant had been cancelled and were sent from pillar to post. A fifty-seven year old claimant from Ventersdorp explained that he suffered from polio and he walks with steel crutches. His grant was cancelled. A fifty-six year old man from Ventersburg had a limb amputated in 1995. He had been told his grant would be paid in August 2000.
Home Affairs
ID problems included wrong birth dates . An old lady from Ottosdal had her grant suspended because of a mistake in her ID number. She had to go to Lichtenburg where they were rude to her. Many people reported wrong birth dates on their IDs. An 62 year old lady applied for a pension two years ago but someone in Mpumalanga has the same name and ID number as her so she has not received her pension.
Residential Care
There was a written submission from Frail Care Centres for the Elderly in Potchefstroom concerning the irregular payment of subsidies and the mis-assessment of pensioners since the pension exceeded the R500 subsidy limit.
Community Care
- Grandchildren drinking , fighting and running up telephone accounts for which the pensioner was being taken to court. Grandchildren demanding pension money by force and using it to buy drink.
- A pensioner in Ventersdorp Location complained that his wife and her relatives assault him , take away his pension, have taken his name off the tenancy permit and force him to sleep in an open garage. He has reported them to the police but they have done nothing
- An old lady from Potchefstroom complained that her son threatened to shoot her.
- A pensioner from Ottosdal reported that her grandchildren were orphans as their parents had abandoned them - social workers told her she could not get help.
- Several pensioners said they could not cope with school fees and rent on the present pension.
Local Council Services:
- Poor services in Schweizer-Reineke township where the bucket system still used. Yet high rentals and service changes. Waiving of arrears by City Council requested.
- A pensioner from Ikageng complained that, as the only breadwinner for four grandchildren, the burden of rental, electricity and service charges was unbearable.
- Ventersdorp : One pensioner complained that her services account escalated despite her payments. Two other pensioners said they could not afford to pay the rent. But another told the Hearing that, after a struggle, she had managed to get an agreement to pay an affordable rent and to pay after the due date.
- Makwasie: A pensioner asked for remission of rent and water charges which were too high.
- A pensioner from Schweiser-Reineke has an outstanding account of R2,800 with the local council.
- A pensioner from Ikageng in Potchefstroom reported that 6 people lived in her two roomed house. Water and electricity were regularly cut. Her four grandchildren were aged from 12 to 20, none were employed. There was no other income. They were very poor. Her life could be changed if rates for water and electricity were brought to a reasonable level.
- A pensioner from Schweizer-Reineke complained of insufficient and overcrowded houses.
Pensions
- A complaint from the Odi region was handed to the Committee on behalf of a large number of pensioners who had been underpaid by CPS. It appears no action was taken either by the Premier of North West or by the National Welfare Department. Attempts by a Committee member to pursue the official concerned came to naught.
- There were also complaints about the late arrival of CPS at pay points, computer break-downs and money getting stuck in machines .
- Many cases of suspended and rejected disability grants were raised with the Committee. Also the non-payment of arrears.
- “He is 82, “ wrote the recorder. “His pension was terminated in March. He is alone, without food, has nothing. He needs immediate accommodation.”
Community Care
- An elderly man reported that his second wife had left him, did not support him but came every month to collect his pension.
- An elderly lady reported that she stayed with her grand-children who were abusive, unemployed and did what they pleased in her house.
- An elderly man reported he was abused by his son who demanded money and stole it if this was refused.
- A 75 year old was assaulted by her daughter when she received her pension. Her grandson smashed up the house. But her grand-daughter had reported the matter to the police and nurses.
- There are 12 social workers in Zeerust. They have two cars. They are unable to visit families.
Pensions/CPS
- Again CPS was the subject of many complaints. They used schools and crèches in the holidays but in term times pay-points were in the open veld. When over-payments are made Pensioner Committee Members are asked to sign but they suspect CPS takes the money. Brits Pensioners’ Committee said CPS promised to attend to their needs when the tender was approved but there had been no progress with shelter, vehicles or computers. Committee members want some remuneration.
- There were complaints about non-payment of funeral benefits (final cheque) and arrears. A report was given of a shop keeper that serves as a pay point and allegations were made that he takes people to Zeerust to be registered as beneficiaries and then shares the proceeds with them.
- The Klipgaat Pensioners Committee reported that the civic wanted to take over the pay point and used guns to frighten them. They did not have name tags. In Makolokwe pensioners pay - /50 cents to the Pensioners Committee for committee meetings in Brits. There is also conflict with the civics.
- There was a claim from Rustenberg that ANC comrades were claiming to be Committee members. A Pensioner from Winterveld said the Hearings were a vote catching exercise by the Government. “We have made too many submissions but there is no reply.”
- A 62 year old man applied for a disability grant. He was told to start checking in March. Nothing happened. Later he found his forms were still lying in the Tihabane offices and he was told there was an overload of work.
- There was a report about an older person who frequently misplaces her ID and pension money- but there is nobody to take responsibility or help her.
- Pensioners from Maboloka complained in October 1999 that traditional authorities had forced them to pay R40 towards the costs of tribal offices when they collected their grants. The authority denied the charge, saying only employed people over the age of 18 had to pay the annual levy.
Residential Homes
- Written submissions were received from two homes: TC Esterbuizen and Sonop Home.At the former there was a complaint that the manager only came to the home to be paid. There are no balanced meals and no programmes. It is state subsidized but does not appear in the directory of the National Department
- Sonop Home is government-run. It was reported that there are rumours of privatization. Doctors don’t visit, there is no transport. Residents come and go and do not stay permanently.
The attention of the Committee was drawn to the following:
- Traditional leaders favour the tackling of abuse and neglect in the home and community rather than through “foreign interventions” like homes for the aged.
- The pension payment system is a matter of serious concern to traditional leaders. The introduction of a new pay system using banks, post offices and smart cards was recommended.
- Means should be explored of stretching the social pension to ensure pensioners get value and the products they require.
- Traditional leaders need to investigate whether they are doing enough to protect older per sons both in the family and in the pension system. The meeting agreed to regularly place the item on their agenda.
The Western Cape adopted its own constitution in 1998. In terms of the directive principles set out in Chapter 10 the Provincial Government must adopt and implement policies to actively promote and maintain the welfare of the people of the Western Cape, including policies aimed at achieving, among other objectives, an “environment in which all frail and elderly persons (i) have access to family care or appropriate alternative care when removed from the family environment (ii) are given basic nutrition, shelter, basic health care services, and social services; and (iii) are protected from maltreatment, neglect, abuse, degradation or involuntary seclusion.” This is unique.
However, the new national welfare financing policy requires a shift in funding from per-capita and post subsidies to programme-based subsidies and from institutional care to preventive services. Although older persons are identified as a “special focus group”, welfare services are expected to be integrated . Accordingly, the Western Cape Social Services Department has been re-structured. There is no longer a specialist section for the elderly who, with other groups, now fall under the Customer Services Division. All complaints are handled by this Division.
It is our impression that this has left a gap in the service to elderly people and to a loss of expertise and experience in this field. Fortunately, other provinces have not followed the same course thus far. The Committee was only able to visit a few homes during the period of the Public Hearing. It was the intention of one Committee member to visit other homes (where there had been complaints) with a representative of the Social Services Department but this could not be arranged.
The final section of this Report on the Western Cape deals with complaints received by the Committee. A common feature of complaints was difficulty in getting them investigated by the Department of Social Services and the Police. One qualified nurse in the Department of Health is tasked with oversight of the health of residents in 160 residential homes including 120 for elderly persons. She has no resources or forensic training. Nobody in the Social Services Department seems to be directly responsible.
The Hearing was attended by about 600 elderly people from Dunoon, Scottsville, Bonteheuvel, Ravensmead, Kraaifontein, Bishop Lavis, Eerste River, Elsies River, Atlantis, Bellville, Black Heath, Strand, Hazendal, Wallacedene, Wellington, Kuils River, Paarl, Happy Valley, Hazendal, Mfuleni.
Organisations represented:
KSE Diensentrum, Scottsville
Multi-purpose Center, Bonteheuvel
Crown Cork Diensentrum
Tygerberg Service Centre
Shawco Advice Centre
Child and Family Welfare
Willoweg luncheon club
Sir Lowrys Pass Service Centre,
SA Council for the Aged
Leonsdale Senior Club
SANCO, Elsies River
Bonteheuvel Domestic Violence
Social Services Eerste River
Social Services, Bellville
ACVV, Cape Town
Nazareth House, Elsies River
Strand Care Service Centre
Russel Rest Eerste River
Christelike Vroue Alisie
CHSO Woodstock
Neighbourhood Old Age Homes, Woodstock (NOAH)
Vereenige Gereformeerde Kerk, Eerste River
Mfuleni Child Welfare
Gemoedsrus, Wellington
Focus on Elder Abuse
Kuils River Centre for the Aged
Paarl Welsyn Orginisasie
Rushof Oue te Huis, Paarl
Kraaifontein Diensentrum
Gammaka Womens GroupThe hearing was opened by Mr Peter Marais, Western Cape Minister of Health and Social Services, who attended all three Public Hearings. He expressed his belief that a new world should be created for the elderly: “Hulle moet lewe, hulle moet nie net bestaan nie.” He gave an assurance that action would be taken to address the problems facing the elderly and announced a plan to train home care workers so elderly people did not have to go to clinics and hospitals.
Abuse in the Community:
- Several submissions referred to the harsh conditions some elderly people have to endure with their families. Lying on cold cement floors, without food, hiding in cupboards to escape assault, bed-ridden people being eaten by ants.
- Two local help lines for the elderly were described: Mrs Davids from HEAL, Atlantis told the Hearing she had started a help line for the 9,000 local elderly. The biggest problem was financial abuse. She appealed for money to enable the group to assist abused elderly. “People will no longer work for nothing!”
- Marie Johnson of Elsies River recently started a 24-hour service for abused elders and children. Again financial abuse was a problem: children and grandchildren took the pension and left the old person alone and without food. Sometimes the family was careless and the old person wandered or went alone to the hospital and couldn’t find her way home. The help service provided volunteers who took the old person into their homes or to the clinic or police station. They published a photo of the old person in the local paper and the family usually came forward. They were warned that they could be charged if this happened again.
Abuse in Residential Homes:
- A written submission was received from a social worker about financial abuse in homes including cheque theft and fraud and the tendency of management to dismiss the staff member responsible and cover-up the offence, allowing the culprit to move on to another home and repeat the offence, the same approach which applies to staff who commit physical and emotional abuse. The submission proposed the following measures to protect elderly residents:
- Written guidelines for home managers
- Labour laws should be amended to enable employers to take on casual staff and dismiss them during a six month probation period.
- The SAP Clearance certificate system should be modified to enable employers to apply for clearance without an employee’s permission.
- Legislation should be amended to require staff to be registered with a national council.
- The reporting of theft and fraud by staff should be mandatory
- A special SAP unit should be set up for abuse of vulnerable adults.
- Several oral submissions dealt with the treatment of elderly people by homes. In one case a woman was evicted from a home and were unable to find an affordable home because her psychiatrist gave her a bad report. Fees for homes are high and not covered by medical aid, causing the old lady anxiety that her funds will run out.
- The over-administration of certain drugs was also raised.
- A staff member from a home reported that families tended to reject the elderly member after admission to a home and this caused great distress to the elderly person.
- A representative of Focus on Elder Abuse asked how the Regulations under the Aged Persons Act would be implemented in the absence of management committees and ombudspersons.
- There was a complaint that poor, frail older persons could not access frail care as they did not have the funds required.
- Subsidies to homes had not kept pace with rising costs and this had resulted in lowering of standards
Community Care:
- An elderly man from Mfuleni complained about long waiting times at the Day Hospital and about doctors only seeing select patients.
- Transport to Day Hospitals was a problem. Several people proposed that one day a week be set aside at hospitals and clinics for elderly patients and the disabled.
- Subsidies to service centers had been cut.
- Staff in Day Hospitals and social workers “don’t care”.
- Home care services are totally inadequate and primary health care services inaccessible
Pensions:
There were a number of complaints about pension administration and All-Pay which has been contracted to pay pensions:
- Pay-out dates are changed without notice. This meant people had to pay double taxi fares.
- All Pay refuse to pay pensions to proxies/procurators who are told “Go and fetch your mother”.
- Old people are turned away and shown no respect by security staff
- Pay-points are inaccessible.
- Correspondence is mainly in English and has a threatening tone. Application forms should be simplified.
- Neighbourhood Old Age Homes raised the case of a pensioner who was told in July that there was no money as she was fit for work. Enquiries at the Department revealed that the wrong information had been fed into the computer by an unknown source. The Pensioner had to take proof of her claim to the Department before they would rectify the situation. No immediate relief was available. Pensioners had no recourse to compensation for such mistakes.
- Communicare, which provides accommodation for ambulant older persons needing minimal support and runs outreach programmes in informal settlements wrote to the Committee urging that the size of the social pension be increased by at least 25% to help address the poverty of older persons and those who share their pensions.
The Hearings were attended by 400 people from Gugulethu, Vietnam, Khayelitsha, Bonnytown, Silvertown, Kaalfontein, Macassar and other areas..
The following senior clubs were represented: Nombasa, Masimanyane, Monwabisi,Noncedo, Rainbow Lane, CPWOA Erica Place.
This hearing was also opened by the Minister, Mr. Peter Marais, who reported that his Department was building multi-purpose centers in Langa and Bonteheuvel and that centres were needed in Gugulethu and Khayelitsha.
The following issues were raised in public submissions:
- Homeless, forgetful, needs care, children’s addresses unknown;
- I am a cripple with a wooden leg, the other is also bad. I sleep outside winter and summer.
- Applicant’s friend gives her food and baths her as her daughter ill-treats her. She lives in a shack
- There is no-one to care for her. The door is kept locked so she cannot wander. Her home has a urine odor.
- She has two sons who are not prepared to assume any responsibility for her
- There is only one room and conditions are deplorable
- She is totally incontinent and is lying on a filthy mattress
- His young wife is disrespectful towards the applicant and has no compassion for his state of frailty
- People in her neighbourhood had taken her money and even her furniture
The Hearing was attended by about 200 people from Plettenberg Bay, Stilbaai, Ilingelihle. Mossel Bay, Knysna, Dysseldorp, George, Kranshoek, Lawaaikamp, Parkdene, Themba Lethu, Beaufort West, Oudtshoorn.
Representatives came from New Horizon Pensioners Forum, Jagersbosch Diensentrum, Huis JJ Watson, ACVV, SANTA, Rosemoore Old Age Home and Service Centre, Benevolent Park Mossel Bay, Ons Huis, Mossel Bay, Rotary Home George, Rosemoore, Knysna Versorgingdienst, Swartberg Diensentrum, Knysna Versorgingsdiens Loeriehof, Ilingelihle Centrum, Masiqumane Pletterberg Bay, Dysseldorp Oord, Lawaaikamp service Centre, Eldorado Diensentrum, Black Sash Knysna, All Pay George,
The Hearing was opened by the Minister of Social Services, Mr Peter Marais. He called for a team of trained workers to regularly visit old people to collect their pills from the Day Hospital and get their pensions. These proposals were greeted with loud clapping from the audience. “We must make life for the old so comfortable that people start to look forward to getting old.”
The following issues were raised in submissions:
PENSIONS:
- The new payout system was criticized - many pensioners had received no money for two months. They were told they would get arrears but what were they expected to live on in the meantime?
- The pay points were very far from peoples homes - they had to catch 2 or 3 taxis, and pay the fares of their “exploiters” who accompanied them
- The Black Sash noted that the administration of grants and pensions in the Southern Cape was particularly efficient in comparison with some other areas.
- However, the Black Sash suspected that the system of procurators appointed to collect grants in terms of the Social Assistance Act was being abused as no minimum standards applied.
- There was a problem for old people applying for the 13 digit ID. In place of a birth or baptism certificate they required an affidavit from someone at least ten years older than themselves. This was impossible for 80 year olds
- An old person from Kranshoek complained that they were tossed from pay point to pay-point including Piesans Valley, Sedgefield and George. They could not afford the transport costs.
COMMUNITY CARE:
- Two recent cases of elder abuse in New Horizon were recounted: an old lady, covered with sores, who was left by her children to burn to death while they escaped. Three weeks ago an elderly woman was thrown out of her house at 3 a.m., a night when two murders took place in the township.
- People feared reporting abuse because it was culturally unacceptable, they were afraid of retribution and there was an old habit of saying nothing
- Pensioners were loved and cared for only on pay day - children stayed away from school hoping to get a share
- Social workers refused to help elderly people saying there was no legislative obligation and they only worked with children
- Several elderly people complained about local councils cutting off water supplies and demanding large payments towards their arrears. One woman claimed the municipality was deducting directly from her pension.
- A member of the Lawaai Kamp Diensentrum complained that the community insisted on using their kitchen even during the three days that they were open. They also complained that they could not use the clinic next door to the center but had to travel to the clinic at Conville.
- The Church was not standing up for older people
HEALTH
- There was a complaint that people from Duuiseldorp that pensioners were not allowed to see the doctor at Oudshoorn Hospital but forced to use their local clinic which is further away and no doctor’s prescriptions were available. When they do get to see the doctor they have to pay.
- A senior nurse from Knysna testified that medical supplies were on the code but not available at local hospital. These were essential for the frail elderly but she had had no positive response from the George Regional office.
EKUPHUMLENI OLD AGE HOME, GUGULETHU, CAPE TOWN:
This home was visited by a member of the Committee in 15 May 2000 following press reports on the death of a resident after falling onto a fire. Both the Social Services and the Health Department had visited the home but the Manager complained that they only came when there was a problem. She was appointed shortly before the accident - there had been a long-standing dispute between the previous Manager and the Committee of the Home. Lack of qualified staff was a problem, especially at night.
Members of the Ministerial Committee again visited this home on 20 September. The home was full (166 residents) but there is a shortfall in subsidies The previous manager did not keep proper records of residents and Social Services had not been notified of new admissions. It took 4-6 months to get pensions transferred to the Home. The Manager welcomed the visit even though it was unannounced. There was still a shortage of staff, especially trained staff.
There continue to be problems with the Management Committee, two of whom are signatories of the bank account. They lack the necessary skills.. Thus in August there was an overdraft. The selection/election process needs to be strengthened. The Home is trying to involve the community and to raise funds.
ROSEMOORE DIENSENTRUM, GEORGE
A complaint was received by the Committee in April about the neglect of residents in the housing scheme adjoining this center. There was some confusion as there is an old peoples home with the same name opposite the Centre. The M.P. for the area, Ms Baleka Mbete, visited the center at the Committee’s request. Later, when the Committee held Public Hearings in George, members visited all three facilities.
The Centre is run by a management committee and receives a monthly subsidy of R19,000 from the Provincial Social Services Department. It runs a clinic, provides meals and runs a shopping service. There are 130 houses attached to the center occupied by pensioners who pay a membership fee of R1 a week plus R2 for food. The cost per person of rent, food and water is R100.
We were told that when the management had tried to increase the fees “Dit was oorlog!”. Many tenants came to the center following their eviction from farms. Many have drink problems. Self neglect is also a problem. They don’t get involved in programmes and when they become frail they don’t want to go to the old age home.
ROSEMOORE OLD PEOPLES HOME
98 residents, 48 staff, 2 of whom are trained sisters, 3 staff nurses, 3 assistant nurses. Monthly subsidies are R72,000. A Social Services staff member sits on all management committees, also on the Southern Cape Council for the Aged.
The old wing consisted of small double rooms, the new wing of six bed wards
We walked past two lines of residents seated along the sides of the L-shaped balcony: the CVAs and the senile, we were told. The former were responsive but were facing the wall. There was a small TV in the corner of the balcony. The matron seemed rather dejected. People didn’t want any activities. “Our community don’t volunteer”, relatives didn’t visit. Most residents are not in burial societies, their policies lapsed when they entered the home.
COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE COMMITTEE OR REPORTED TO IT
A. Concerning residential facilities in the Western Cape
- ACVV Huis, Bergsig, Riebeeck West: A report of physical and emotional abuse.
- Altehar, Strand: A report of the neglect and confinement of a wheel-chair bound resident
- Andante Retirement Village, Kuils River: A report of the extensive use of catheters and over-medication to sedate residents.
- Avonrust, Rondebosch: A report of the misuse of drugs , lack of regular medical examinations and deteriorating conditions.
- Beaconvale: A report was received that the home was dirty and elderly people neglected but inspections found nothing amiss. Apparently there are management problems.
- Carlisle Lodge, Fish Hoek: A complaint about neglect, force-feeding and rough handling by staff resulting in severe bruising. The resident concerned was transferred to another home and died shortly afterwards. The family laid charges at the police station but subsequently received a letter that the investigation had been halted due to lack of evidence.
- Chris Heunis Old Age Home, Somerset West. A report of the rapid deterioration in the health of an aged man following admission, and extensive bruising
- Ekuphumleni: A report that residents were ill-treated, not given enough food and did not have money for toiletries.
- Huis Andre van der Walt: A report that staff are rude and uncaring and that some residents are tied to their chairs, not taken to the toilet and not kept warm.
- Huis Disa, Tulbach: A report that the home was locked at night and residents could not get out if there was a fire.
- Huis Esperanza, Strand. A complaint about the slapping of residents by staff.
- Huis Hesperos, Beaufort West: A report of abuse.
- Huis Marie Louw, Somerset West: A report of non-administration of medication and bruising of an elderly lady.
- Huis Protea, Goodwood: A report of emotional abuse and intimidation by management.
- Huis Sonnekus, Milnerton: A report that a ninety year old woman repeatedly fell out of bed, in spite of rails, resulting cuts and bruising. Also a report that the home is dirty.
- Huis Uitsig, Parow North: Reports of favoritism and complaints about the management committee.
- Huis Zonnekus, Milnerton: A report that medication was not given to a resident, of her falling unnecessarily , of the falls not being reported and of the resident being left for a long time on the toilet.
- Jireh Johanna Old Age Home: A complaint that the home is dirty and staff behavior towards residents poor.
- Kensington Old Age Home: Complaints that medication is not being given and that the home is dirty. Staff complains about family’s visiting hours.
- Kraaifontein Te Huis: A complaint that a diabetic resident who was partially blind was not adequately cared for. A full investigation into this complaint was conducted by the Social Services Department which, while it was unable to find evidence of neglect, made detailed recommendations for improvements and will review the situation in March 2001.
- Ladies Christian Home, Cape Town: A report of inattention to the cleanliness and comfort of a bed-ridden resident and problems with the administration of medication.
- Monte Rosa, Gardens: A complaint about abusive staff behavior.
- Nerina Place, Bishop Lavis Township: A report that family members could not visit a resident in her room, that visiting hours were restricted and that a gift parcel was stolen.
- Nerina Gardens, Fish Hoek: A report of family being prevented from visiting a resident with Alzheimers Disease because they had complained about her cleanliness.
- Noordhoek Manor: A complaint that the frail-care section was dirty and not properly staffed.
- Serepta Old Age Home: A report of lack of staff over-sight at night leading to the rape of an elderly resident (by another resident) who subsequently died. Also complaints about lack of activities for residents and misappropriation of finance.
- Zerilda Steyn, Pinelands: A report that an elderly lady, moved here from Sea Point Place (both facilities are owned by Cape Peninsula Organisation of the Aged) was unable to call for help because the bells were not working. Family also found the staff unhelpful. Also a report of theft of residents possessions.
- Zonnebloem (ACVV) Cape Town : A case of physical abuse.
B. Concerning abuse in the community
- A report of an elderly woman who was robbed by a boarder and left alone for three days.
- A report of an elderly man locked out by the landlord without notice who died of pneumonia. His nephew tried to take action against the landlord but the police sent him from pillar to post and didn’t seem to know how to handle the case.
- A report by her neighbour that an elderly lady was being neglected by her grand-daughter. Investigations by the police and social workers concluded that the neighbour was interfering.
| 1. EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE POSTAL ADDRESS: The Head of the Department Department of Welfare Private Bag X0038 BISHO 5605 |
TELEPHONE NUMBER: (040) 609 3962 (040) 609 3939 FAX NUMBER: (040) 639 1644 |
| 2. MPUMALANGA PROVINCE POSTAL ADDRESS: The Head of the Department Department of Social Services and Population Development Private Bag X11213 NELSPRUIT 1200 |
TELEPHONE NUMBER: (013) 752 4106/7/8 (013) 755 1591 FAX NUMBER: (013) 755 3828 |
| 3. KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE POSTAL ADDRESS: The Head of the Department Department of Welfare and Population Development Private Bag X27 ULUNDI 3838 |
TELEPHONE NUMBER: (035) 874 3703/4 FAX NUMBER: (035) 874 3710 |
| 4. GAUTENG PROVINCE POSTAL ADDRESS: The Head of the Department Department of Welfare & Population Development Private Bag X35 JOHANNESBURG 2000 |
TELEPHONE NUMBER: (011) 355 7878 FAX NUMBER: (011) 836 6533 |
| 5. WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE POSTAL ADDRESS: The Head of the Department Department of Social Services Private Bag X9112 CAPE TOWN 8000 |
TELEPHONE NUMBER: (021) 483 4730 FAX NUMBER: (021) 483 4783 |
| 6. NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCE POSTAL ADDRESS: The Head of the Department Department of Social Services and Population Development Private Bag X5049 KIMBERLEY 8300 |
TELEPHONE NUMBER: (053) 830 0640 FAX NUMBER: (053) 831 4917 |
| 7. NORTHERN PROVINCE POSTAL ADDRESS: The Head of the Department Department of Health and Welfare Private Bag X9302 PIETERSBURG 0700 |
TELEPHONE NUMBER: (015) 290 9262 FAX NUMBER: (015) 291 4135 |
| 8. NORTH WEST PROVINCE POSTAL ADDRESS: The Head of the Department Department of Social Services, Arts, Culture and Sport Private Bag X6 MMABATHO 2735 |
TELEPHONE NUMBER: (018) 387 3753 (018) 387 3752 FAX NUMBER: (018) 387 5273 |
| 9. FREE STATE PROVINCE POSTAL ADDRESS: The Head of the Department Department of Social Welfare P O Box 517 BLOEMFONTEIN 9300 |
TELEPHONE NUMBER: (051) 405 4444 FAX NUMBER: (051) 403 3578 |
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