The Portfolio Committee on Social Services and Population Development having scrutinized and considered the Older Persons Bill [B68-2003] now request the House to mandate the NCOP Permanent Delegates to the Northern Cape to support the Bill with the following concerns:

• The act should provide for developmental care in residential facilities and provision of funding. The act should also provide for extension of services and build-in support systems e.g. Home based Care.

• The age difference between men and women for admission in Homes is seen as discriminatory.

• The Bill should introduce tax breaks for Older Persons.

• When closing down an institution, the Manager should ensure that the elderly who resided in his/her care are well placed in another institution.

• Clause 12 subsection (i), should be amended that a person should be given no less than 3 months notice of a proposed discharge or transfer from a Home and not 30 days as indicated in the Act.

• The word "criminal" should be inserted before offence to read as follows: criminal offence. Section 13.

By: Ms S Lucas (Chairperson)