Lorato Modisenyane
​In preparation for the Provincial World Elder Abuse Awareness Day event, the Department of Social Development has launched a series of activities across the province to raise awareness and educate communities about the rights of the elderly.
As part of these initiatives, the Department conducted a two-day awareness campaign in Rietvlei, West Rand Region. The campaign began with a training session on June 10th, aimed at equipping officials and volunteers with skills to effectively approach households and educate them on elderly rights, different types of abuse, and how to promote and protect the rights of older persons. The training also covered how to recognize and report elder abuse, which questions to ask in cases of abuse, and how to handle and refer such cases appropriately.

On the second day, officials applied their newly acquired knowledge in a door-to-door campaign.

During one visit, Gogo Rebecca Tselampe, 59, shared that she does not experience abuse and is aware of her rights as an elderly person. Although she does not yet qualify for the old age grant, she receives a disability grant due to a past injury. She lives with her three grandchildren, who all receive child support grants.

Gogo Tselampe proudly stated, “I am well aware of my rights as an elderly person, and I know where the local Social Development offices and the clinic are. I even know who my local Social Worker is.”

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) is commemorated annually on June 15th in support of the United Nations International Plan of Action on Ageing. This day highlights the significance of elder abuse as a public health and human rights issue.

WEAAD aims to spotlight the challenges and contributions of older persons in the 21st century. Older persons play vital roles in nurturing and supporting families and their rights must be recognized and upheld. They should be supported to participate in the economic, political, and social lives of their communities and to engage in voluntary work, sharing their knowledge and expertise in line with the Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing.