{"id":193478,"date":"2018-12-09T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2018-12-09T04:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/193478\/senior-citizens-urged-to-take-a-stand-against-abuse\/"},"modified":"2018-12-09T19:04:06","modified_gmt":"2018-12-09T17:04:06","slug":"senior-citizens-urged-to-take-a-stand-against-abuse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2018\/12\/09\/senior-citizens-urged-to-take-a-stand-against-abuse\/","title":{"rendered":"Senior citizens urged to take a stand against abuse"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether with funny old tales or deep-rooted wisdom, senior citizens have worked hard to knit generations together.<\/p>\n

To show appreciation for the elderly and help them develop healthy habits, Germiston Association for the Aged (GAFA) and the Ekurhuleni West Cluster SAPS called on senior citizens from Dukathole and surrounding areas to join them in their outreach programme.<\/p>

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Guests gathered at Dukathole Service Centre last Thursday.<\/p>\n

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Germiston Association for the Aged (Gafa), Ekurhuleni West Cluster SAPS held an outreach programme to remind the elderly of crime prevention and reporting methods.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cOur elderly seem to have taken on much responsibility that is not their own,\u201d said Betty Gololo from GAFA.<\/p>

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\u201cThey are neglected and abused by their families and they do not know how to report abuse. To an extent, I don\u2019t think many of them know what abuse is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abuse is not only in the form of violence, Betty stated as she addressed her esteemed guests.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeglect is a form of abuse,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome of you are overburdened with responsibility such as raising your grandchildren or great-grandchildren because their parents have abandoned them, only to return home with more mouths to feed and no financial contributions.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Speaking at the Dukathole Service Centre on crime reporting and basic human rights last Thursday, Betty Gololo from Germiston Association for the Aged (GAFA).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Sinethemba Booi, chairperson of the Ekurhuleni West Cluster SAPS Crime Prevention Youth Desk, shared his concern regarding the elderly\u2019s trust in strangers with friendly faces.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo not trust every stranger who is kind enough to help you,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen at an ATM or store tills, be aware of your surroundings and only seek help from official security guards if you need help.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemember not to share personal information with anyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is shameful but a lot of the youth are perpetrators in the eyes of the elderly because they are the ones scamming you out of your money, dumping their offspring on your doorsteps and using psychological ploys to manipulate you.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Betty unreported crimes by the elderly range from rape, credit and Sassa card cams, pyramid schemes, neglect and domestic abuse.<\/p>\n

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The elderly were equipped with crime prevention and reporting methods, as well as easy exercises to keep them active, at an outreach programme hosted by the Germiston Association for the Aged and the Ekurhuleni West Cluster SAPS last Thursday at Dukathole Service Centre.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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\u201cWe need to remind senior citizens of their basic human rights, how to stand up against abuse and how to report crime,\u201d said Betty.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe forget that they too are abused daily and many even by their own family members.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are afraid of saying no, afraid of reporting their felonious children or grandchildren all out of the fear of being ostracised by their families and communities or other reasons unknown to us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Following the information session, the elderly took formation outside for an exercise session led by Sgt Olga Masethla, community liaison officer of the Ekurhuleni West Cluster SAPS.<\/p>\n

Olga urged the senior citizens to get into the habit of exercising and stretching as it would help improve their flexibility and reduce various muscle aches.<\/p>\n