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Following a request  from the DA, the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has confirmed that it will investigate the state of South Africa's old-age homes.

The SAHRC has indicated that they view the conditions that our senior citizens live in of national importance. A national hearing overseen by the Commissioner for Older Persons, Commissioner Joseph Malatji will be held on 11 June 2013.

Our request  for an investigation follows the Department of Social Development Old-Age Home Conditional Assessments report  which found that of the 58 old-age homes surveyed, most were in troubling condition. I even visited some of these homes last month and found a few problem areas in need of attention.

While I appreciate the fact that these facilities are run by Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) and are thus deemed private, the government does have some responsibility to ensure vulnerable people receive statutory services which are at an acceptable level of quality.

The HRC will investigate:

• Whether the funding given to NPOs for the running of old-age homes is indeed adequate for the services both government expects them to provide, as well as services contemplated in the Older Persons Act
• Whether the funding given is adequate to meet the needs of the facility in rendering expected services
• Whether each of the facilities has entered into a contractual agreement with the Department and specifically what are the service level agreements
• What stipulations do these agreements place on the maintenance of facilities
• When last was each facility inspected in relation to the fulfilling of the above agreements
• Whether the Department is fully aware of the critical need for urgent maintenance, the Department would be accountable or responsible in anyway should harm come to any of the residents at any of the 58 old-age homes

The DA believes that our senior citizens should be treated with care, and support must be provided to those who are unable to assist themselves in their old age.

We hope that this HRC investigation is the first step to ensure that this becomes a reality for all of our senior citizens who continue to live in undignified conditions.