• News
  • Sport
  • TV
  • Radio
  • Education
  • TV Licences
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION
Home South Africa

Fear grips an E Cape old age home following rape of staffer

24 April 2021, 9:50 PM  |
Anda Nqonji Anda Nqonji |  @SABCNews
This is the first incident of this nature at the home in nearly 40 years since its establishment.

This is the first incident of this nature at the home in nearly 40 years since its establishment.

Image: SABC News

This is the first incident of this nature at the home in nearly 40 years since its establishment.

The safety of the elderly in the country is under the spotlight. Fear has gripped the elderly at Ekuphumleni Old Age Home at Zwide township in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.

A staff member was allegedly raped on the premises during a burglary. The old age home accommodates 60 residents. This is the first incident of this nature at the home in nearly 40 years since its establishment.

“I’m very unhappy about the incident and my mom was a bit shaken up. It happened in another block, in the frail block and I just don’t understand why criminals will always focus on old people that are unable to help themselves and unable to defend themselves, weak. The people that are supposed to be having years of retirement that have experience. Can’t we leave them in peace?” urges the son of an elderly resident, Jon Ellen.

The victim is undergoing trauma counselling. Her colleagues are concerned this may happen again.

“One thing that upsets us the most as we work with the elderly is this new development of a colleague who got rape. It means we are not safe, no one is safe. But they have tried to fit burglar gates in one ward – though incomplete,” says one staff member.

Safety of the elderly in SA under the spotlight:

Restoring human dignity to those directly affected is now a priority. Director of Ekuphumleni Old Age Home, Monga Peter, explains: “I think it’s only correct that we start with the people that were directly affected. The trauma that the lady experienced and the elderly in that block – subsequently what we did was to bring in services of social workers to deal with trauma counselling to an extent that the lady now is being attended to. She is spending time at the shelter in Uitenhage.”

The work to upgrade security features is currently under way.

“Mainly what we have done just to improve and augment in the form of generally fitting in the security gates in the main doors, which work was already under way and of course what we have also activated is the collaboration between the police and the community that helped us so that they accelerate the patrolling in the area and the institution. There are sophisticated features that I’ve rolled out that I can’t provide details for obvious reasons,” says Peter.

The Social Development Department has condemned the incident.

“We want to indicate our disgust to say that this is a despicable act, immoral and betraying the values that govern our society, especially values that are around the protection of our vulnerable people in our society. Those people are the elderly people, the children and the frail. And in those instances, we want to call upon the community around the centre to take it upon themselves to ensure that the elderly and frail people in that centre are always protected,” says the spokesperson for the department in the province, Mzukisi Solani.

The department says it’s also working with the centre to bolster security. Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Share article
Previous Post

Soweto Derby ends in a stalemate, AmaZulu second on the log

Next Post

Sadag says focus on bullies could help mitigate the phenomenon

Related Posts

A customer looks over a Glock 17 9mm hand gun at the Guns-R-Us gun shop in Phoenix, Arizona, December 20, 2012.

Kwazakhele massacre claims another life on Saturday

6 February 2023, 1:05 PM

LIVE | Dr Frene Ginwala tribute

6 February 2023, 12:04 PM
Water & Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu briefs media.

Minister Mchunu to receive progress reports on North West water challenges

6 February 2023, 7:01 AM
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane is seen interacting with the school management team at the Geluksdal Secondary School in Brakpan on 03 February 2023 following the fatal stabbing of a learner.

Emotional stress, gangs behind recent spate of violence in Gauteng schools

5 February 2023, 9:05 PM
On this day in 2016, a container at the mine entrance collapsed and buried Yvonne Mnisi, Pretty Nkambule and Solomon Nyirenda.

Action SA to compel government, Lily Mine owners to retrieve container trapped underground

5 February 2023, 7:13 PM

Mass killings haunt Eastern Cape residents

5 February 2023, 5:40 PM
Next Post
Cyber-bullying.

Sadag says focus on bullies could help mitigate the phenomenon

Most Viewed

  • 24hrs
  • Week
  • Month
  • Registration at Unisa closes on Friday, but management says no need to panic
  • Green comet to be visible from SA next week
  • VIDEO: Mabuza resigns as SA Deputy President
  • Budding Stellenbosch FC star reportedly stabbed to death
  • Shock over proposed SA sponsorship of Tottenham Hotspur
  • Parts of the Northern Cape to be exempted from rolling blackouts
  • Registration at Unisa closes on Friday, but management says no need to panic
  • VIDEO | St Benedict College’s Matric learner gets 11 distinctions
  • Limpopo matriculant from child-headed household attains diploma pass
  • Female circumcision practice thriving in Eastern Cape
  • Kellerman, Bantwini, Zikode win Grammy award
  • Tributes pour in for Stellenbosch FC player Oshwin Andries
  • Calls for national shutdown a ‘do or die’ situation, says EFF deputy president
  • ‘If you are lazy, stay home’, Mbalula advises ANC members
  • Former Orlando Pirates midfielder John Moeti passes away

LATEST

Comrades Marathon runners
  • Sport

Comrades Marathon runners happy the race is back to its traditional June date


Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe engaging with the media at the Investing in African Mining Indaba at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on February 6, 2023.
  • Business

Govt working on plan to resolve load shedding in the next 12 months: Mantashe


A smartphone with Facebook's logo is seen in front of displayed Facebook's new rebrand logo Meta in this illustration taken October 28, 2021.
  • Africa

Meta can be sued in Kenya by ex-content moderator, the country’s court rules


A customer looks over a Glock 17 9mm hand gun at the Guns-R-Us gun shop in Phoenix, Arizona, December 20, 2012.
  • South Africa

Kwazakhele massacre claims another life on Saturday


[File photo] Smoke and steam billows from Belchatow Power Station, Europe's largest coal-fired power plant operated by PGE Group, near Belchatow, Poland November 28, 2018.
  • Sci-tech

Residents in Mpumalanga want municipalities to hold polluters accountable


Rescuers carry out a person from a collapsed building after an earthquake in Adana, Turkey February 6, 2023.
  • World

Putin says Russia ready to help Syria and Turkey after major quake


Weather

  • About the SABC
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Advertise
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

SABC © 2023

No Result
View All Result
  • SOUTH AFRICA
  • POLITICS
  • BUSINESS
  • SPORT
  • AFRICA
  • WORLD
  • SCI-TECH
  • LIFESTYLE
  • FEATURES
  • OPINION

© 2022

Previous Soweto Derby ends in a stalemate, AmaZulu second on the log
Next Cyber-bullying. Sadag says focus on bullies could help mitigate the phenomenon