‘Nightmare in the making:’ State of frail care rapidly declining in Gauteng

Like the Life Esidemini tragedy, a lack of funds and finances contributed to the frail state of care for the elderly and disabled persons as another care centre faced closure.

Democratic Alliance Gauteng Spokesperson for Social Development, Bronwnny Engelbrecht said the Tswelopele Center crisis, where residents had no idea where or when they would be moved, painted the picture of the state of the Department of Social Development (DSD).

Engelbrecht said it was clear DSD has not properly planned for the closure of Tswelopele and the movement of the residents at the end of March.

“This is a shocking picture of a department that has been entrusted to care for our weak and vulnerable,” she said.

Engelbrecht said the implications of closing down such a centre were huge.

“All contracts were cancelled by the management team like food, cleaning materials, electricity, daily disposables, and available staff will have to be urgently sourced for uncertain periods,” she said.

“This appears to be a nightmare in the making. We cannot allow another Life Esidimeni crisis,” Engelbrecht said.

According to DA Shadow for the MEC of the Department of Health, Jack Bloom another constant problem elderly persons faced was receiving proper medicine.

“As well as the transport to take them to hospitals. Too little consideration is given to elderly people needing chronic care at our hospitals who wait in long queues, often for most of the day,” he said.

Bloom said far more should be done to deliver medicines directly to them or a convenient nearby venue.

“Many elderly people can wait years for a hip replacement or cataract surgery to restore their sight,” he said.

Director Enforcing Older Persons Rights (DEOPR) Chief Executive Officer, Hennie Els said many Old Age Homes and Caring Facilities suffer financially.

“This is due to the fact that businesses and general funders have withdrawn funding due to the economy and Covid,” he said.

Els said political parties didn’t consider the effect the economy had on the unemployment rate when the facility closed down.

Gauteng Social Services Welfare Development Forum Chairperson, Les Sanabria said there was a problem with more elderly homeless, and disabled on the street which created more unemployment.

“If money was not returned to treasury and used to help our sector DSD would be actively creating jobs instead of increasing the unemployment rate,” he said.

Sanabria said we were becoming a non-caring society.

“We are neglecting the rights of the frail and needy to a life of dignity and driving more people into poverty,” he said.

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