Mthatha – Eastern Cape Social Development MEC Pemmy Majodina decided to personally inspect an old age home following allegations of fraud and abuse of the residents levelled at its staff and management.
Majodina visited Empilweni Old Age Home in Mthatha, vowing to “get to the bottom of the allegations” and take action against those responsible.
“We must recognise that older people are our heritage, our pride and the custodians of our moral values and traditions. They should be treated with respect,” said Majodina.
During her visit, she spoke to residents and inspected their rooms to ensure they are being taken care of. While there, however, none of the residents complained to her about ill-treatment.
Social Development spokesperson Gcobani Maswana said this was probably because the residents didn’t want to be victimised for talking to the MEC.
“We all know that old people don’t like to cause conflict, so they might not have been entirely honest because they didn’t want the workers to get into trouble,” he said.
He said the team would also investigate reports that staff at the home had hurriedly changed the residents’ bedding before the visit.
On June 16, the residents were left to fend for themselves when workers went on strike over salaries, demanding a 15 percent increase.
At the time of the strike, National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union regional secretary, Zolisa Ngcekeni, said the reason workers weren’t being paid was because the home’s management was not managing the money it received from Social Development properly.
Empilweni board chairperson Ivan Siyila denied funds were being mismanaged, saying the money from Social Development only covered food for the residents.
Siyila said he appreciated the MEC’s visit as it would “help get to the truth behind the finger-pointing.”
“We have nothing to hide here. The investigations can continue,” he said. – Zona Mpendulo, BuaNews
