Call to support elderly citizens
Zikalala said the Office on the Rights of Senior Citizens would be leading a provincial dialogue on elder abuse
KZN Premier, Sihle Zikalala, called on communities and businesses to join government in restoring dignity to the elderly.
This formed part of his address on International Day for Senior Citizens in Ladysmith on Thursday, where he emphasised the need for sanitation, basic services and adequate shelter for elderly citizens.
‘We also call on our law enforcement agencies to be tougher on criminals who violate the rights of the elderly,’ Zikalala said.
‘They are considered a vulnerable group in our country, which means we must prioritise their needs and concerns.’ Zikalala said the Office on the Rights of Senior Citizens would be leading a provincial dialogue on elder abuse.
‘It is despicable to know that some of our senior citizens suffer verbal and physical abuse at the hands of younger family members,’ he said.
‘Through this dialogue, we seek to promote community-based support for older persons.’
He also addressed the harmful misconceptions surrounding mental diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s, and associations with witchcraft.
‘We condemn, in the strongest possible way, the persecution and brutal murder of senior citizens, in most cases women, who are thought to be witches responsible for some personal or community misfortune,’ he said.
