Pensioners lose faith in police
August 7 2012 at 08:39pm
By SAPA
By SAPA
Independant Newspapers
Parliament, Cape Town -
The elderly are often turned away or
ignored when reporting cases of abuse at police stations, MPs heard on Tuesday.
“I don't blame the elderly for not
having confidence in the police,” Congress of the People MP Mluleki George said.
SA Older Persons Forum co-ordinator
Roedolf Kay briefed MPs on the daily security challenges pensioners faced.
“The exploitation and abuse of older
people is a major problem,” he said.
“The majority of elderly South Africans
do not live in old age homes, but in our communities.
“The perpetrators are often family
members and the abuse of the elderly happens under a veil of silence,” Kay
said.
He said loan sharks and thugs often
targeted the elderly outside pension pay-out points.
In some instances, loan sharks withheld
pensioners' identity documents until they were repaid what they were owed.
The forum claimed police officers were
often unwilling to investigate when pensioners attempted to lay charges at a
station.
MPs vowed to lobby fellow
parliamentarians and the government to prioritise such abuse.
SAPS deputy national commissioner
Godfrey Lebeya responded by saying police did not keep figures, as crime stats
were not formulated on the basis of age.
“We've taken note that when
(pensioners) move away from the pay-points, there is a need for something extra
to be done,” Lebeya said. - Sapa
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/pensioners-lose-faith-in-police-1.1358491
