70-year-old attacked by son.
Image: Reaction Unit South Africa
POLICE are searching for a 42-year-old Verulam man who is on the run after he allegedly assaulted his 70-year-old mother and fled with her vehicle today.
According to Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), the incident occurred earlier in the day during an argument between the suspect and his mother at their Brindhaven home.
During the altercation, the man allegedly attacked and assaulted the retired teacher before attempting to strangle her.
He then fled the scene in her blue 2012 BMW 320i.
Rusa spokesperson Prem Balram said they were appealing to the public for assistance in locating the vehicle and the suspect.
“Anyone who spots the vehicle or has information that could assist in the investigation is urged to contact Rusa immediately,” Balram said.
He said paramedics treated the woman for multiple injuries sustained during the assault.
Daniel Chettiar, the founder of the DSK Group, said community organisations had reported a sharp rise in the number of cases of elderly abuse in the North Coast since January.
He said they had documented dozens of incidents but often struggled to intervene because the elderly victims were reluctant to take action against their own children.
“Since December 31 until now, we have had 78 cases of elderly abuse on the North Coast. We are fed up because no matter how much we try to help, the elderly do not listen to us. These parents do not want their children to be arrested, so we cannot move forward to help them,” Chettiar said.
He said that many of the reported cases involved adult children taking control of their parents’ homes and finances and sometimes forcing them out of their own properties.
“We see cases where children take over their parents' houses, kick them out and put them in their old age homes. Ninety percent of our elderly abuse cases involves sons being the abusers. The elderly victims fear exposing their sons and keep quiet,” he said.
He added the DSK Group had attempted to hold regular dialogue to educate the elderly about their rights.
He said many of the victims feared being cut off from their families if they spoke out.
“It is very sad because we should be repaying our parents for taking care of us but instead they are getting abused. Your children have no right to abuse you,” he said.