NORTH WEST PROVINCIAL LEGISLATURE
Office of the Speaker
07th June 2005
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
Report on the final mandate on Older Persons Bill [B68-2003]
1 TERMS OF REFERENCE
The above mentioned Bill was referred to the Portfolio Committee for consideration as a matter of urgency.
2. BRIEFINGS
On the 5th August 2004, Honourable J Masilo came to brief the committee on the above stated Bill, a decision in that meeting was then taken to can have another briefing and the date was on the 12th August 2004. Present at the briefing was the provincial department, departmental legal unit, Legislature's Legal Unit, National Department and some Community Leaders.
3. CONSIDERATIONS
Public Hearings were conducted from the 19-20" August 2004 at Kgalagadi, Bophirima, Southern, Bojanala and Central Districts.
4. FINDINGS
Skilled pensioners be given job opportunities.
In some Old Ages the staff is not treating pensioners staying there with respect e.g. Winterveldt Old Age Home (Rome).
Need a building In Letihokareng for older persons as have projects under the name of' "ltsoseng Batsofe".
It was reported that Social Workers need to be given alt facilities like transports so as they can be to able visit the pensioners, and know their needs.
It was said that let there be people under the Minister to assist him in terms of reporting and assigning of duties, so that at the end of the day the needs of the pensioners are catered for.
There was a complaint of writing Bills in English only, a suggestion was made to be also written in Setswana especially for Older Persons so that even when they are at home they can be able to read and understand the Bill.
There are older persons complaining about their children who fee that they are old enough, they chase their parents from their own houses and build shacks for their parents or tell them to go and look for an accommodation for themselves so that they can stay in those houses.
Need a multi purpose centre for older persons to be utilised on daily basis in all 5 districts of the province.
In Hatebeesfontein there is Ntatafee for the aged (care service) catering for group of older persons, and use rented house paying R500.00 monthly, and it is not yet registered.
This house has 10 beds and needs sheets, blankets etc.
In Tlhabane there is an institution for the aged called Thandanani club and operates at the local old clinic and there is no water, toilet and rights, they seriously needs help.
Black old age homes are not well established as white aged home.
It was mentioned that many older persons are living alone in their homes; therefore this situation exposes them to different kind of abuse.
Most of the care givers do not wash the aged therefore they arc exposed to different kind of diseases hence they don't live long.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- With regard to abuse of old people, Social Workers should work five days in a week so that when such cases are reported they are there to assist.
- Old buildings in Township should be renovated to cater for Old Age people who are not cared for by families.
- Social Clubs would like to have safe, renovated and well equipped places to use it to offer services to old aged people.
- Not all social clubs are registered and it is difficult to get accommodation and to pay rent because they are not funded by the Government.
- Councillors are not providing enough assistance to service clubs.
- Some social clubs are using free powerless electricity and it got switched off any time of the day.
- The department through the assistance of social workers should make sure that all social clubs offering services to old people are registered and funded by the government.
- Cases on people who abuse old people should be reported to SAPS or Social Workers immediately depending on the type of abuse.
5. Recommendations
- It was recommended that the Bill be passed and be effected matter of urgency.
- Problems stated be addressed by the department as soon as possible.
- Feedback to be taken to the people
HON. ML MOLEMA
CHAIRPERSON: SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE