Social Development
(1) What support does her Department provide to (a) Huis Maudie Kriel in Ceres and (b) Huis Ou Meule in Riversdale;
(2) whether her Department is currently investigating cases of an unnatural death at the two facilities above; if so, what are the relevant details;
(3) (a) what is her Department’s policy on investigating unnatural deaths at homes for elderly people and (b) what structures does her Department have in place to ensure the safety of homes for elderly people?
[1] [a] The Department provided funding to the Huis Maudi Kriel in Ceres to an amount of R 1 526 918,00 for 40 older persons in the 2022/23 financial year.
Furthermore, a number of four senior Social Service Professional posts are being funded at the ACVV Head Office to guide and support homes for the elderly under their auspices to the amount of R 2 1 80 599,00
[b] The Department provided funding to Huis Ou Meule [DROOM] to the amount of R1 284 240,00 for 36 older persons in the 2022/23 financial year.
Furthermore, two senior Social Service Professional posts are being funded at the BADISA Head Office to guide and support homes for the elderly under their auspices to the amount of R 1 121 123,00.
[2] Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incidents including unnatural deaths at the two facilities were also instituted by the mother bodies, ACVV and BADISA Head Offices respectively, and staff members have been suspended at Huis Maudie Kriel. A Health Audit was also done at Huis Maudie Kriel in Ceres. Reports received by the Department are being taken into consideration in terms of the Department’s mandate to protect older persons and to oversee adherence to registration requirements at Old Age Homes and will be followed up by further visits by the Department at both facilities. In the case of Ou Meule [DROOM] a report from the Fire Chief of the Municipality is also awaited.
[3] [a] The Department does not have the mandate to investigate unnatural deaths at homes for elderly people in terms of Older Persons Act, No. 13 of 2006. Unnatural deaths will be investigated by SAPS and the relevant pathologist from Department of Health. As indicated above, the Department has a mandate to monitor, and, where necessary, investigate conditions at Old Age Homes to ensure that they adhere to registration requirements, including norms and standards for care to older persons.
[b] Homes for the elderly must comply with the by-laws and regulations of local Municipalities regarding health, fire and safety.
Monitoring visits are being conducted at homes for the elderly and the following Occupational Health and Safety compliance at homes for the elderly, are also being monitored:
- implementation of health & safety committees;
- implementation of emergency evacuation plans;
- appropriate fire equipment such as fire extinguishers which should be in place;
