And there seems to be hope, because despite the department officials’ decision to close down the home by the end of January, it was still operational on Friday.
Maseko also sought help from the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), following the report which was compiled by the two departments last year, to close the home.
“We are still investigating the matter,” said SAHRC spokesperson Isaac Mangena.
“The Commission is deeply concerned about the rights of older persons and convened a national hearing in 2015 to address some of the challenges experienced by older persons.”
At the national hearing, the SAHRC provided three recommendations:
- The National DSD must develop a comprehensive database of all caregivers in communities, and provide intensive training for community caregivers in caring for older persons in their homes within 12 months thereafter.
- All private and non-subsidised care services, as defined in the Older Persons Act No 13 of 2006, should be registered by 2016.
- All community-based support services, whether state funded or not, should be registered by 2017.
On January 15, the department of health told the City Times that their decision to close the home stemmed from Maseko failing to comply with the requirements for running it legally.
“The home is not registered with the department of social development,” said DOH spokesperson Steve Mabona.
“She only went to renew her registration with the South African Nursing Council after the audit.”
However, Maseko explained that she is not trying to disobey the rules and regulations of running a home, but every time she reached out to the department for help, she did not receive any.
“Since 2010, I have been to the DSD numerous times, asking them to advise me and guide me onto the right path of registering the home and making it a home that is acceptable for the residents to live in, but nobody helped me,” she said.
Maseko added that she had numerous telephonic conversations with DSD officials over the years, who were aware of the home’s condition.
The home has a solar power system to supply electricity, running water and a vegetable garden.
The residents have a small area where they can do mild exercises and each resident has their own bed.
Desiré Hartley, who is a resident at the home, wrote a letter to explain that the home is not only a place to live in, but a form of security for residents.
“We are one big family here, we laugh, eat, play and share special moments together. The elderly have become traumatised after hearing that the departments wanted to close the house down,” she said.
Josephine Mokoena, who is the daughter of Martha Phore, a 64-year old resident at the home, said that the home was a great place to put her mother.
“Since my mother had a stroke, she lost a lot of weight and became very unhappy, but since she came here, Zelda takes her to the clinic, she eats on time and takes her medication, she has even gained weight again. Taking away this home is like killing these people emotionally,” Mokoena said.
The EMM and DSD were approached for comment, but none had been received at the time of going to print.
