Press Statements
PRESS STATEMENT (20/01/2012)
The
SA Social Security Agency (SASSA)
have awarded a 5 year,
R10 billion contract for the payment of social grants to beneficiaries
to Cash
Paymaster Services (CPS). CPS
is a wholly
owned subsidiary of Net1, which is listed on the NASDAQ and JSE.
In the past CPS was responsible for
paying out 65 % of South
Africa's social grants i.e. 4.5 million grants per month, operating
in
KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West the Eastern and Northern Cape. This
time
around, however, the entire tender was awarded to CPS alone. This means
that, ABSA
subsidiary All Pay and Empilweni, that, in the past, have jointly been
responsible for the other 35% seem to be out of the picture.
The awarding of the tender is surprising due to the
allegations of non-compliance
with the National Norms and standards and beneficiaries themselves
alleging
human rights violations in regard to CPS controlled paypoints.
Allegations to
this effect were
raised by the Trade
Union NEHAWU in 2010 questioning why SASSA was paying more than R1
billion to
outside contractors for poor and inexcusable service". The SAOPF
and
other
civil society organisations have repeatedly requested that the
allegations
against CPS be investigated further and in addition made an appeal to
the
Minister of Social Development for the CPS tender to be disqualified.
It is especially senior citizens and
the disabled that are suffering
as a result of poor and inexcusable service at many of the paypoints
throughout
the country. Many pay points lack water, toilets, seating, shelter or
fences. Older
persons and the disabled have no choice but to endure this on the days
that
grants are paid, month after month. At some paypoints, beneficiaries
have to
wait for as long as 8 hours in a queue as a result of broken cash
machines,
late delivery of cash, or simply because the service provider arrived
late at
the paypoint .
In a statement to the media, following the cancelation of the CPS
tender in 2009, Net1
chief executive, Serge Belamant said : "We know categorically we won
all nine provinces on technical,
financial and
black empowerment criteria: we deserve it, and I want all nine."
It is the responsibility of state and
non-state agents alike
to ensure social grant recipients, arguably among the most vulnerable
in our
society, are treated with respect and dignity. In our view the awarding
of this
tender will only worsen the already disgraceful service that many have
to
endure at pension paypoints and the SAOPF calls on all stakeholders,
political
parties and trade unions to fight the awarding of this tender, tooth
and nail.
SASSA needs to explain why the tender was granted to one service
provider only
while AllPay and Empilweni, that allegedly
have a better
service delivery record than
CPS, were
disqualified.
Today the SAOPF wrote to the Public Protector, Adv. Thuli Madonsela, to request that her office investigate, as a matter of urgency, the awarding of the entire tender to CPS.
ROEDOLF KAY
NATIONAL
COORDINATOR
PRESS STATEMENT (24/10/2011)
MINISTER AND SAOPF FORGES PARTNERSHIP TO ENSURE A BETTER LIFE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS AT SAOPF AGM
The South African Older Persons Forum (SAOPF), watchdog for the rights of older persons in South Africa, conducted its 5th Annual General Meeting on Wednesday the 19th of October in Bloemfontein.
The AGM coincided with the start of the national golden games and was attended by a 1500 senior citizens from all over the country.
In her speech the Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini, said that the SAOPF must be the voice of older persons throughout the country regardless of their geographic location. Senior citizens remain valuable treasurers who helped shape a free and democratic South Africa. The Minister acknowledged the meaningful role that senior citizens continue to play in society and in many communities senior citizens continue to bear the burden of providing care and support to an increasing number of orphans and vulnerable children, while caring for their own chronically-ill children.
Minister Dlamini urged the SAOPF to ensure that older persons are organised across the country, including those in rural areas and informal settlements. The focus should not only be on those who live in old age homes as older persons who live in communities are alive to the day-to-day challenges on the ground and can play a role in reaching out to child-headed households.
Minister Dlamini also announced that government is working towards the universalization of the Old Age Pension Grant and abolition of the means test. At a recent meeting MINMEC meeting that was held in Soweto it was agreed with SASSA that no grant reviews will be conducted between December and January, so as to avoid disrupting the lives of families who rely on social grant as their main source of income.
The Minister vowed that the DoSD will work closely with the SAOPF to protect the rights of older persons.
The Chairperson of the SAOPF, Mr Tom Boya, in his speech thanked the Minister and DoSD for their efforts to try and create a better life for senior citizens but also expressed his dissatisfaction that the Older Persons' Act had only been delegated in three provinces and urged older persons to demand that the Delegations to the Act be signed and finalized in the respective provinces.
In his report SAOPF National Coordinator, Roedolf Kay, said that despite the fact that the South African Government has developed a legal framework for protecting, promoting and fulfilling the rights of older persons, the reality is that many individual older persons, especially the most vulnerable living in rural areas, experience various forms of discrimination on a daily basis. Delegates and members applauded the SAOPF Executive for a clean sweep of unqualified audit reports since establishment of the organisation.
ROEDOLF KAY
NATIONAL COORDINATOR
PRESS STATEMENT (09/08/2011)
Fifty-five years ago thousands of women from across the country made their way to Pretoria to demonstrate their opposition to carrying a pass. This was one of the largest crowds to assemble at the Union Buildings and probably the biggest gathering of women in the country's history. The march was organized by the Federation of South African Women
Women are the majority of older people in South Africa today; some of them are the survivors of the 1956 march. Black older women in particular still suffer from effects of discrimination - having been denied a decent education, services and jobs. Today In poor health, many languish at home without proper care or attention. Others queue from early morning at pension pay-points, bullied by loan sharks and hawkers. Still others are turned away from clinics and hospitals and told to "Go home and die!" Residential homes for the elderly remain largely white with access almost impossible for many poor and frail elderly.
We call on national, provincial and local government to address this situation and pay heed the Older Persons' Charter, adopted by older people across the country in 2009, which demands equality, respect and freedom:
" Some of us are ill and some are disabled but all of us are entitled to be treated with respect. We do not want to be labeled as frail, senile, feeble-minded, hard-of-hearing or forgetful. We do not want to experience another form of discrimination nor do we want hand-outs. We want to share in building a free South Africa."
ROEDOLF KAY
NATIONAL COORDINATOR
PRESS STATEMENT (14/06/2011)
The horrific death of twelve people that have been killed in a fire at a centre for the mentally disabled and elderly at the Struisbult Frail Care Centre in Springs, Gauteng, is the 4th major fire at such facilities in the last two years. In our view this calls for drastic and immediate action in ensuring fire safety of all residential facilities for children, older persons and people with disabilities in the country.
The fact is that most of these facilities simply don't have the financial resources to comply with fire safety regulations of the National Building Regulations and The Occupational Health and Safety Act (No. 85 OF 1993). Ensuring fire safety is a hugely expensive exercise and considering that most facilities subsidized by the state are by and large grossly underfunded, such facilities simply cannot afford expensive fire safety equipment and maintenance. Installing adequate fire safety and equipment in a home housing around 100 persons' would cost in the region of about R 40 000.00, money that most homes do not have.
There are, however, steps that can be taken right now in order to prevent a recurrence of future tragedies such as the one at the Struisbult Frail Care Centre. Management of residential facilities have to liaise with their closest fire department for training of all staff in fire and evacuation procedures. Due to manpower issues, fire departments have become more reactive rather than proactive and hence fire inspections are usually not done as required at all facilities. This would mean that management of these facilities have to become more pro-active in approaching their local fire departments requesting inspections and training. The SAOPF will be requesting all residential facilities for older persons to immediately ensure the establishment of a Fire and Risk Committee tasked fire-safety and evacuation procedures.
Another very important measure that residential facilities can employ as an immediate measure is to involve the community around the facility in evacuation procedures. Many people living in these facilities are either wheelchair bound or in the case of older persons, frail. The Verulam Frail and Day Care Centre in Verulam Durban have done just that, residents living around the centre have been briefed in evacuation procedures for the centre and are all aware of the siren-code for a fire emergency. This means that should the siren of the facility be activated, residents living in the surrounds will immediately come the aid of residents and will know exactly what to do in the situation.
Although it can be argued that government should be doing more to ensure that residential facilities are funded sufficiently to ensure fire safety at all facilities, it can also be argued that the corporate sector can assist with this as part of corporate social responsibility. The SAOPF would hence like to make an appeal to businesses to assist residential facilities in their areas in acquiring adequate fire safety equipment including smoke detectors, fire hydrants, fire extinguishers and other safety equipment. Let's all work together to save the lives of the most vulnerable in our society.
Corporates and companies wishing to assist residential care facilities with this can come into contact with the SAOPF office @ 021 422 5286 or email stopfire@saopf.org.za
ROEDOLF KAY
NATIONAL COORDINATOR
PRESS STATEMENT (05/04/2011)
LAUNCH OF THE OLDER PERSONS' CHARTER
Addressing senior citizens during the launch of the Charter on the Rights of Older Persons held at Freedom Park on March 29, 2011, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini said that "Older persons deserve to have their rights realised and their specific needs met so that they can continue to live their lives in dignity and make a contribution to our society."
The Charter was developed by the South African Older Persons' Forum (SAOPF) over a period of four years from 2007 to 2010. Workshops, in which older persons were given the opportunity to give input to the Charter, formed part of a national consultation process through which the Charter was developed. Role players and stakeholders also involved in the consultation process included academia, traditional leaders, war veterans and various organisations and individuals working in the aged sector.
In the preamble to the Older Persons' Charter, older persons expressed their wish to "lead useful and satisfying lives, to stay in our homes for as long as we are able, to receive care and support when we need it and, when we are no longer able to live at home, to be cared for in a place that protects us and allows us to lead dignified lives until the end of our days."
The launch of the Charter was preceded by the finalization of the Older Persons' Act (13/2006) when the Regulations were published in April of 2010. Due credit should be given to the Department of Social Development for making a concrete effort to create a better life for thousands of vulnerable older persons. While the Older Persons' Act focuses on maintaining and promoting the status, well-being, safety and security of older persons, the Charter on the Rights of Older Persons seeks to ensure that older persons live in an environment which upholds the United Nations Principles for Older Persons based on independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment and dignity.
In her speech, Minister Dlamini was adamant that the Charter should be displayed in every residential / care facility and organisations working with older persons in the country. Following the national launch of the Charter, a provincial launch is planned for the Western Cape later this month. Older persons from several districts in the province will be invited to attend the launch. A copy of the Charter is available on the SAOPF website: http://www.saopf.org.za/charter.html
ROEDOLF KAY
NATIONAL COORDINATOR
PRESS STATEMENT (02/08/2010)
Pieter Wessels old-age home
We are shocked and dismayed to hear of the appalling fire at the Pieter Wessels old-age home in Nigel on Sunday 1st August. Several tragic fires in residential homes for vulnerable old and young have occurred in the past few years. This is the fourth fire at a intuitional facility since 2007 raising serious concerns about fire safety at all such homes: in 2007 sixteen elderly people died in a fire at the Kwabdala Home in Nkandla, in May 2010 a fire at the Rusthof Old Age Home left three people dead and just a month before this a tragic fire Ingogo near Newcastle took the lives of at least 11 children and three carers.
People with disabilities, elderly & children are at greater risk of being trapped in burning buildings, thus it is the special responsibility of government to legislate and ensure that all personnel caring for such people receive proper and adequate training in fire safety and evacuation procedures.
In order to prevent such tragic events in the future the SAOPF calls on the Minister of Social Development, the Honorable Edna Molewa, to appoint a committee to investigate fire safety measures, safety equipment and evacuation procedures at all residential care facilities. Fire safety measures at facilities caring for the most vulnerable in our society should be non-negotiable.
Despite numerous requests, almost four years have passed since the fire at the Kwabadala old age home and yet no report on the fire has yet been released by government; such a report might very well have helped in preventing loss of life such as occurred at the weekend at the Pieter Wessels home.
The tragic events at the Pieter Wessels home and similar fires at other residential homes over the past few years call for a definite and urgent review of fire safety procedures and regulations as these apply to residential institutions whether owned privately or by the state.
See Media24 Article: http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Call-for-speedier-fire-reports-20100806
ROEDOLF KAY
NATIONAL COORDINATOR
PRESS STATEMENT (25/03/2010)
FIRE AT CHILDREN'S HOME IN LADYSMITH
We are appalled to hear that a children's home in Ladysmith, KwaZulu Natal has burned down with the loss of 11 children and 3 carers' lives. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined and press reports differ on the reasons why so many people were trapped in the building. However, as a place of safety registered with the Department of Social Development, we ask with concern what fire precautions were in place?
In November 2007 Kwabadala home for elderly persons in Nkandla burned down. Sixteen or more of the residents were burned to death. Some reports said they had been locked inside. An investigation was set up by the KwaZulu provincial government but no report has yet been made public.
It is a special responsibility of government to supervise residential homes for vulnerable people: old, young and disabled and to ensure they are safeguarded against hazards of fire and flood and more personal forms of abuse and neglect. We call upon the Minister of Social Development, Mrs. Edna Molewa, to appoint a committee to investigate the latest fire and, within a limited time-frame to make recommendations on measures needed to safeguard the lives of those in institutional care. We also urge her to press for the release of the report into the Kwabadala fire.
ROEDOLF KAY
NATIONAL COORDINATOR
PRESS STATEMENT (19/10/2009)
OLDER PERSONS WILL SUFFER BECAUSE OF ESKOM PRICE HIKES
The South African Older Persons' Forum (SAOPF) has learnt with great shock of ESKOM's unilateral decision to increase the price of electricity by 45% a year for the next three (3) years. This increase is on top of the recent 34% increase earlier this year!
We as older persons do not know whether ESKOM wants us to go back to fire, wood and candlelight as electricity is becoming a luxury that we cannot afford!
Most elderly are either on pension, living on fixed incomes or unemployed as they have been declared redundant. For older persons looking after orphans and supporting grandchildren whose parents have died because of AIDS and other diseases are already struggling to support these orphans with their meager social grants. Even older persons that are getting pensions from their past employment say that the money is not enough for them to make ends meet.
ESKOM has got to get back to the drawing board and find money elsewhere and leave the elderly alone as they are already overburdened and this after toiling so much for this country building its infrastructure to be what it is today. The SAOPF is calling for municipalities to include electricity as part of their indigent policy and to grant indigent status to all older persons.
Tom Boya
SAOPF CHAIRPERSON
PRESS STATEMENT (22/09/2009)
THE SAOPF TAKES A STAND ON INJUSTICE TOWARDS OLDER PERSONS
The South African Older Persons Forum (SAOPF), watchdog for the rights of older persons in South Africa, held its 3rd Annual General Meeting in Durban on Monday 21 September 2009.
At the AGM a new Board of Directors was elected and Mr. Tom Boya has accepted the position of Chairman. He will lead the organization into the future. "I am very excited about my election and will work hard to fight for the rights of all older persons in South Africa. I have a passion for the rights and interests of older persons; sadly these are being violated and sidelined by the general public and by government."Tom Boya is the founder of the Limpopo Centenarian Club and former President of NAFCOC in Limpopo. Working in the private sector, Tom represents the growing commitment of the sector to ensure a better life for older persons in South Africa.
The AGM also resolved to negotiate with government towards abolishing the means test- a set of criteria to determine eligibility for a social grant (state pension). The SAOPF will call on government to do an investigation into the costs involved in implementing the means test as opposed to abolishing it and using the money to include all older persons in the social grant system.
ROEDOLF KAY
SAOPF NATIONAL COORDINATOR
PRESS STATEMENT (09/06/2009)
Gerontological Nursing Science
It is with shock that we learn of a S.A. Nursing Council circular informing training colleges that new qualifications registered with the National Qualification Framework no longer include courses in gerontological nursing science and gerontology (including geriatrics). Such courses have been among the options offered to trainee nurses since 1993.
South Africa, like the rest of the world, has a growing older population. In 2006, older persons numbered 3.7 million and constituted 7.7% of the population. These figures are projected to almost double to 6.4 million by 2050. The 1998 Demographic and Health Survey indicated that:
- only 13% of people over 65 years of age had access to private medical scheme coverage;
- 50% of people over 65 years were taking one or two courses of prescribed medication for chronic conditions;
The combination of a poorly informed older population, access barriers to health care, a lack of professionals with knowledge and skills and inadequate policy development and implementation contribute to the inadequacy in management and prevention of non-communicable disease and disability, points out the SAHRC Report. Hence the need to increase the number of health professionals with special training in Geriatrics i.e. not only medical practitioners but physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses, social workers, etc.
Health care workers should be equipped to provide the information on preventive care that helps older patients maintain functional independence for as long as possible. For example, they should be aware of the increased vulnerability of older persons to complications from influenza and be alert to detect new cases of dementia as early as possible.
The health care worker should provide the information and opportunity for preventive care that helps older patients to maintain functional independence for as long as possible. The ageing population is heterogeneous, recommendations for screening community dwelling, cognitively and functionally intact individuals will necessarily be quite different from those dealing with functionally dependent and cognitively impaired nursing-home residents with multiple co-morbidities.
The Provincial Review undertaken by the SAHRC was the first comprehensive investigation into South African health care facilities within a human rights framework. It points out that while both the Constitution and the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act, 4 of 2000, prohibit discrimination on the basis of age, these provisions are insufficient to ensure that older persons are able to access appropriate health care services.
The government prioritizes the needs of the young and maternal and child health, and allocates budgetary resources accordingly. The health care needs of older persons are not a priority and such clients tend to be marginalized in health care services.
The SA Older Persons' Forum calls upon the new Minister of Health to scrutinize the Nursing Council Circular of 26 March 2009 with a view to restoring a one year course in gerontology/geriatrics in all nursing qualifications.
Mary Turok
SAOPF Chairperson
PRESS STATEMENT (28/01/2009)
Derogatory Statements about Older Persons
The SA Older Persons Forum notes with concern the derogatory statements about older persons made during the current election campaign as recently reported in the press. The suggestion was that because people are old they have no will of their own and they can therefore be easily manipulated. Of particular concern was the link made by certain politicians between older women and witchcraft, raising as it did the specter of ancient and dangerous superstitions which we have been at pains to dispel. Nor should older persons be lumped together as a sector whose plight needs to be addressed by government.
We wish to remind the public and political parties in particular that, besides being a significant section of the electorate, today's elderly experienced the full weight of apartheid and contributed in no small measure to the struggle to establish a new order. Large numbers of them still show remarkable stamina in spite of their advancing age, continue to make an enormous contribution to their families and communities and are the caregivers of children and grandchildren affected by HIV and AIDS.
We believe that older voters would like to hear from politicians some recognition of their contribution and to see some signs that they can expect their status and their lives to improve and to be more secure in the future.
ROEDOLF KAY
SAOPF NATIONAL COORDINATOR
PRESS STATEMENT (21/03/2009)
COMMEMORATING HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
On Human Rights Day South Africans celebrate the end of the vicious system of apartheid, and all of us should be committing ourselves to working towards establishing a human rights culture so that South Africa becomes a truly democratic, fair and just society.
In 2002 South Africa was one of the signatories to the United Nations Declaration and Plan of Action on Ageing in which 142 governments committed them to the full protection and promotion of the rights of older persons in partnership with civil society, the private sector and older persons themselves.
However, in South Africa not every older person enjoys full human rights. Many are discriminated against, abused or regarded as a burden and their contribution as caregivers and volunteers is belittled all rover looked. Recently suggestions have been made by some politicians that they have no will of their own, that they can be easily manipulated and that they are engaged in witchcraft.
The SA Older Persons Forum calls on all South Africans to commit them to ensuring that the rights of older persons are respected. Parties in the current election campaign must ensure that the Older Persons' Act of 2006, which establishes a framework for the empowerment and protection of older persons as well as the promotion of their status, rights, well-being and security, is speedily implemented.
Mary Turok
SAOPF Chairperson
