Protea North organisation stands up against abuse of senior citizens

Right in the middle of youth month, and in the midst of protests left right and centre uniting against the recent Femicide attacks that have plagued the news, one organization decided to stand up for one group that has been silenced for too long.

The Alpha World Ministries Social Care Centre based in Protea North is a non-governmental organization that focuses on the issues of senior citizens in the area and they hosted a march against the abuse of senior citizens.

Pastor Maureen Sibadela said, “We are marching to the Protea Glen SAPS to bring our petition from our organisation of the area against the abuse of elderly people.

They are being abused in their homes and there are things that are not going well for them as well.”

Sibadela mentioned that there are various cases of abuse for old people that disappear into thin air because they are not attended to the right way.

“Today we have brought the petition to the station commander to please bear with us and to please help us with all the problems that have senior citizens have in the community.”

In conjunction with World Abuse Day for Elderly People on June 15, the organization thought they should take the initiative to raise awareness to the community.

“We wanted to bring our grievances to the commander to listen to us because there are still cases of senior citizens that are being abused you find that we never find out the results of that case in the end.”

260 people were in attendance of the march and all signed the petition taken to the police.

“We would like a health desk for senior citizens to be placed in the station because we noticed there is no health desk for people who understand will understand their problems like they should be.”

Sibadela spoke of the difficulties that elderly people face in being afraid to report cases of abuse or sexual assault to young police officers and how they make fun of the reports.

“We want that if there is an elderly woman who has been raped by someone she lives with, that person must be evicted from the home for her safety.

These cases happen but unfortunately, the cases disappear into thin air and the abusers still go home and abuse their grandparents again.”

For those senior citizens who are abused and afraid of reporting it, they can contact Alpha World Ministries, other organisations, and churches.

There are social workers that are present at Alpha and there’s Age in Action that helps older people with such issues.

Sibadela spoke of the number they can call to contact the organisation, the number is 011 980 3615.

The acting station commander lieutenant colonel Refilwe Tshabalala was there to accept and sign the petition on behalf of the station.

Read More:

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