Elder abuse rates soar in KZN as victims suffer in silence

ELDER abuse in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has reached “widespread, silent, and fast-growing” proportions, with organisations reporting several cases weekly.

As we commemorate 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, community workers reveal the shocking reality of physical violence, financial exploitation, and neglect facing the elderly, often at the hands of family members. 

They said community intervention and government action are urgently needed to protect vulnerable seniors.

Daniel Chettiar, founder of the Rapid Response Team (RRT) North Coast, said they responded to at least four reports of elder abuse a week. 

“As much as inter-partner violence is a major concern in our country, the abuse of the elderly sits at the same level. However, the problem persists because the elderly fear where they would go or what would people think if they left their homes. They also fear that no one would believe them as the perpetrators are often their children.”

Chettiar said the forms of abuse was no longer just verbal but physical. 

“They are being beaten and in some instances left with broken hands and legs. They are burnt with cigarettes or boiling water, deprived of food and made to sleep on the cold floor. In many cases we have dealt with, the victims said it is because their adult child wanted their grant money to buy drugs and they refused. Sometimes, it is because their child’s spouse did not like them and wanted to get them out of the home. 

“As soon as we are informed of such abuse we immediately intervene by reaching out to the police and social development department, who find them a place of safety, but only if they wish to. However, this issue is not going to end if society, especially the neighbours of the elderly who are getting abused, do not blow the whistle. We can no longer have the mentality, ‘it is not my business, so I won’t get involved’,” he said. 

Charlene Singh, the spokesperson for WomanPACT said elderly abuse in KZN was far more common than people realised. 

“We see it in both urban and rural communities. These involve neglect, emotional abuse, and financial exploitation being the most frequent. Sadly, it is a widespread, silent, and fast-growing issue.”

Singh the organisation received between 10 to 15 direct reports a month.

“However, many more come through community workers who pick up cases informally. We also have a social media platform which many community members use to amplify their stories as there is a level of anonymity which such platforms offer them. 

“In addition, on average we receive between 20 to 25 calls a week related to some form of elderly distress or neglect. However, not all become cases, but they show how widespread the concern is.”

Singh said some of the abuse cases they received were quite severe. 

“We have had cases where pensioners are left without food because their grants are taken, or where elderly women are threatened or isolated in their own homes. In most instances, unfortunately, the perpetrators are close family members such as adult children or relatives living in the household.”

Singh said that some of the contributing factors included poverty, unemployment, and substance abuse, among others. 

“Sometimes it’s simply that older people are seen as ‘burdens’, which is heartbreaking.”

Singh added they provided immediate psychosocial support, linked victims to social workers, and intervened with the police or social development department when needed. 

“In some cases, we also work with community structures to ensure the elder is removed from harm or receives food and medication. However, to address this issue we need faster response times from social services, more shelters that can accommodate elderly victims, and stronger policing of financial abuse. Most importantly, authorities must treat elderly safety as seriously as child protection.”

Carmel Murugen, divisional manager of research, strategy and development for The Association for the Aged (Tafta), said while elder abuse was highly prevalent in KZN, it was under-reported as in most cases the perpetrator was a family member.  

She said Tafta received an average of 15 cases of elder abuse per month for investigation and support.

“Since the launch of Tafta’s Elder Abuse Line (TEAL) in November 2022, we receive an average of 119 calls a month.”

Murugen said most of the cases of elder abuse pertain to financial abuse, which refers to the misuse or theft of an older person’s money or assets. 

“It includes intimidating the elderly to access their old age grant or property and use of any savings they may have. The second frequently reported form of abuse is psychological abuse which involves insulting or humiliating the elderly, threats to their safety or life, invasion of privacy, denying their right to make decisions for themselves and so on.

“The sad reality uncovered by TEAL is that perpetrators are often a family member, caregiver, friend or someone in a position of trust. In the last year, over 70% of calls we received, related to cases where the victim’s family member was the perpetrator,” she said. 

Murugen said they also received reports of physical and sexual abuse.

“A particularly disturbing case was of a 71 year old woman who was attacked but had no recollection of the incident. She was found the next day by her neighbour lying on her bed with blood stains on her clothing. A case of sexual abuse was opened and is being investigated.  The woman was provided with trauma counselling and is now living with her daughter.”

Murugen added that there was a need for more community awareness on elder abuse and the rights of older persons

“The government also needs to prioritise older persons at service points such as clinics, hospitals, police stations and SASSA so they are not deterred from seeking help and reporting abuse.”

Thuba Vilane, spokesperson for the KZN Department of Social Development, said during the 2024/25 financial year, 756 cases of elder abuse were officially reported in the province. 

He said while elder abuse was not a new phenomenon, recent trends indicate a steady increase in reported incidents. 

“This rise can be interpreted in two ways. It may reflect an actual growth in abuse cases, but it is also likely due to increased advocacy efforts and improved awareness, which have encouraged more victims and community members to report incidents.  

“The seriousness of the problem is further compounded by high unemployment and the escalating cost of living in South Africa. As many households rely solely on an older person’s pension as their primary or only source of income, this economic strain has contributed to a growing prevalence of financial elder abuse, where older persons are exploited or coerced for their pension,” he said. 

Vilane said however, the Constitution and the Older Persons Act (Act 13 of 2006) placed strong emphasis on the protection and dignity of older people. 

“Elder abuse and neglect are treated with utmost seriousness, recognising that older persons are among the most vulnerable groups in society. Any form of abuse against an older person is regarded as a serious violation, and perpetrators are subject to legal consequences and protective intervention measures.”

THE POST

BOX:

Reporting elder abuse:

• Rapid Response Team North Coast: 062 324 0686
• WomanPACT: 083 354 6359
• Tafta: 0800 101 110  or 072 459 2613 (Whatsapp)
• KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development: 087 158 3000
• SAPS: 10111